Summary
While2XKOis still a ways off from launch, the game’s director, Shaun Rivera, finally revealed the total number of characters that will be available at launch. While the team continues to take its time developing the game,2XKOcontinues to make progress, even coming off a successful alpha test last year with more planned for 2025.
For most fighting games prior to launch, the major focus is on which characters will make the roster. This is a common theme for legacy franchises likeMortal Kombat,Street Fighter, andTekken, games which not only have a passionate community but fan-favorite characters as well.Utilizing characters fromLeague of Legends,2XKOcertainly has no shortage of options, with many fans continuing to debat who will be the perfect fit for this fighting game. As it turns out, players won’t have as many options as they were likely anticipating on day 1.
In a recent Q&A session on the2XKODiscord channel, game director Shaun Rivera answered some fan questions that didn’t make the nearly hour-long dev diary. One question was around the launch roster, with Rivera admitting that2XKOwill have “10 playable champions at launch.” He admits that the2XKOchampion rosterwill likely be a lot smaller than fans were anticipating, and confirmed that the live-service elements of2XKOmeans the game will continue to improve and grow over time.
Why the 2XKO Launch Roster is So Low
For most fighting games, especially recent ones likeStreet Fighter 6,Tekken 8, orMortal Kombat 1, only launching with 10 characters is typically unheard of. However, Rivera provided a reason for2KXO, even though the game is able to draw from theexpansiveLeague of Legendsroster. Essentially, the team could continue to build out the roster, though doing so would continue to push the game’s launch date further back. When faced with that reality, Rivera indicated that the team would rather get the game into the hands of players sooner, with continued updates post-launch continuing to add in more content.
We also believe that experiencing these champions through solo/duo play via a number of different fuses provide a lot for folks to dig into early on. The fact that we are a live service game means that it will only get better from there via new champion releases and gameplay updates.
At this point, it’s no secret how long the development process for2XKOhas taken. Originallyannounced in 2019 under the codenameProject L, it was positioned as a spinoff ofLeague of Legends, bringing the iconic champions into the fighting genre. So far,2XKOhas confirmed 7 champions in the game, including Ekko, Ahri, Darius, Yasuo, Braum, and Illaoi. Only just recently, the team re-confirmed Jinx for2XKO, bringing one of the stars fromArcaneinto the upcoming title.
2XKO
WHERE TO PLAY
2XKO is the free-to-play 2v2 fighting game featuring champions from League of Legends and Arcane. Register now for a chance to playtest Jinx, Ekko, and more in 2025.
