| 2XKO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Closed Beta Review | Early Access Review |
Everything We Know About 2XKO
2XKO Plot
2XKO is based on League of Legends’ lore and, as of writing, does not feature any specific story of the MOBA classic. However, the game will have unique dialogue and interaction among champions during their character intros in-game, which will give players some insight into 2XKO’s overall setting.
2XKO Gameplay
2XKO is a competitive 2v2 tag-team fighting game where players strategically manage an active "Point" character and a supporting "Assist" character to defeat their opponents. This involves utilizing character-specific attacks, special moves, and supers, along with strategic tag-ins and assist calls to extend combos or escape pressure.
It also includes an accessible control scheme, designed to lower the barrier to entry for new fighting game players, and the unique "Fuse System" which allows players to select specific mechanic variations that greatly alter gameplay strategies before a match. The game boasts a robust rollback netcode for smooth online experiences and a "Juggle Limit System" to prevent overly extended combos.
While 2XKO does not feature a traditional single-player story mode, it focuses on the competitive aspects of fighting games: mastering individual champion kits, understanding complex team synergies and counter-play, adapting to diverse opponent playstyles, and climbing the ranks in its competitive ladders and tournaments.
2XKO Release Date
2XKO is released in Early Access for PC via the Riot Games official client. As of writing, there’s still no information on the game’s full release, but it is scheduled to be released sometime in 2025, which will include a console release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
2XKO Review (Early Access)
Since the closed beta release, 2XKO has been a fighting game worth watching. Seeing pro players find the grimiest setups, most ambiguous mixups, and optimal combo routes has been exciting, to say the least. After a week of the closed beta, I was already convinced that the game is very much ready, aside from a few key flaws with its character roster count.
Today, though, Riot Games has officially released the game in Early Access for Season 0 with key additions like new characters, additional tutorials, and most importantly, a peek at its monetization scheme. I was already impressed with the closed beta gameplay, so I won’t be surprised if it’s more of the same. But I will be focusing on its new features like the additional tutorials, combo trials, monetization, and the two new characters on the block.
Even More Tutorials
Fighting game tutorials have always been very tricky to do, and in most cases, they’re not great at all. 2XKO’s tutorials are informative, but they aren’t the greatest since they’re mostly text-based. However, the fact that they reward players for doing them is great since it incentivizes players to complete them and, hopefully, understand the game’s inner workings.
It’s rare to see a fighter have a crazy amount of options for players to use for both offense and defense, and it’s good that they’re encouraging players to experience it, even if they already know what they’re getting into. And trust me, when you start seeing ambiguous setups, you’re going to appreciate knowing the necessary inputs for parrying, push blocking, retreating guard, and the like.
Combo Trials Help A Lot
2XKO probably has the most robust combo system in a modern fighting game right now. Back during the closed beta, players were finding more and more combo routes and unique interactions every day. While a big part of tag fighters is discovering combos and setups, it helps a lot if these games show you demonstrations of certain interactions.
With the addition of Combo Trials, the game gives you a foundation to work on, especially when you’re trying out a new character. It’s definitely not the most optimal in terms of damage, but knowing a good, reliable combo staple is a great way of exploring a character’s other options without thinking too much about combo routes.
Microtransactions in Full Swing
It’s already known that 2XKO will be a live-service game, so microtransactions will be unavoidable. While the base game is free-to-play with farmable currency called Credits
, players will have the option to buy KO Points
to buy champions and cosmetics. Aside from that, the game also has other monetization schemes like the Battle Pass, edition packs, and a rotating shop of skins unique to every player.
To cut to the chase, the pricing is… expensive, to say the least. For context, a Legendary Skin like Omega Squad Teemo costs 2000 KO Points, which is equivalent to $20. Each champion costs 10000 credits, and you can earn 7500 by finishing weekly missions. If you want to bypass that process, it’ll cost you $10 per champion token.
It’s also unsurprising that 2XKO will have paid editions despite being a free-to-play game. While it’s certainly baffling that the Ultra Starter Edition is priced at a whopping $100, the value certainly is great when looking at each component individually. For those who want specific numbers, the total value goes up to $160.
For the Battle Pass, there are four different tiers at different price points, and to be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a Battle Pass have more than two tiers. These are the Free, Standard ($10), Deluxe ($20), and finally, Ultra ($35). Each tier provides additional items over the other, with the Ultra having an exclusive skin and color pack locked behind it.
Let me reiterate that the cosmetics are not a necessity to enjoy the game, and you don’t necessarily need to buy the champions because you can use their offline launcher to try them out for free. However, the scheme is still fairly predatory, especially with the rotating shop, battle pass exclusives, and the other items locked behind the higher editions.
2 New Champions Enter the Ring
While the roster is still small in my opinion, I will commend Riot for adding two new champions to its early access quickly. These being Warwick, the Uncaged Wrath of Zaun, and League of Legends’ infamous mascot, Teemo. I will admit, I still haven’t put in enough time to learn the ins and outs of each of them, but I will say that they are also well adapted from their MOBA counterparts.
For example, Warwick has the Bloodlust mechanic, which is a gauge that increases based on the attacks that he lands. At max bloodlust, his moveset becomes deadlier and more feral, adding more hits to his special moves and allowing him to chain certain special moves together, as well as having more combo opportunities. On top of that, his design and animations feel inspired, as they’re both familiar and fresh at the same time.
On the other hand, the infamous Swift Scout from Bandle City, Teemo, is a whole different story. Similar to his identity in the MOBA, his kit is quite annoying to deal with. He has a wide array of zoning tools, like his explosive poison mushrooms, toxic darts, and his trusty slingshot. On top of that, he also has a unique mechanic where his tools become stronger and have additional properties when you land them enough times, giving Teemo even more reasons to be a bigger nuisance.
Already In It For the Long Haul
I’ve already raved about the game’s presentation and the gameplay back in its closed beta, and I was already sold on it being the next big fighting game if Riot plays their cards right. Admittedly, it’s been a while since a new fighting game has gotten me excited like this game did, and the best part? It’s completely free.
Expensive monetization aside, it’s clear that Riot is very much invested in 2XKO, and it shows in how they’re tackling everything from the mechanics to the marketing, communication between developers and the community, and the like. And who knows? Maybe Riot Games really is the one to show other fighting game developers how to communicate patches, market their game, and even monetize their additional content.
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2XKO Product Information
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|
| Title | 2XKO |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2025 |
| Developer | Riot Games |
| Publisher | Riot Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Riot Client), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Number of Players | 1-4 (Local, Online) |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | 2XKO Official Website |
