2XKO’s Final Closed Beta May Be Too Little, Too Late

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After a long wait, the finish line is now within reach for the game known as 2XKO. Originally called Project L, this fighting game was announced during the tenth anniversary of League of Legends in 2019 by Radiant Entertainment and Riot Games. Since Radiant Entertainment’s team consists of veterans from the fighting game community, including the Cannon brothers who developed GGPO rollback netcode and EVO tournament series, anticipation for 2XKO has remained high over the past years. Those who have played the game during its beta tests and demo kiosks can certainly attest to why it’s eagerly awaited.

2XKO stands out as a unique tag fighter that caters not only to teams of two characters but also duos of players. It’s revolutionary in the fighting game genre, offering online play and planned tournaments that can accommodate both team-of-two setups and solo players. This versatility is amplified by the game’s Fuse system, which allows for dynamic adjustments within two-character teams. While 2XKO has many appealing aspects, a growing list of issues has been brewing beneath the surface, and the game’s efforts to rectify the most significant problem may inadvertently create another in its stead.

2XKO Is Closer To Launch Than Anyone Realized

A Closed Beta Test Is The Staging Grounds For 2XKO’s Official Release

On July 22nd, 2025, Riot officially announced that Vi, the gauntlet-donning bruiser and co-star of the hit LoL series Arcane, will be included in the initial lineup for the release of 2XKO. Not only that, she’ll be playable at the game’s latest demo during the EVO 2025 event in early August. Moreover, Vi is expected to participate in 2XKO‘s final closed beta phase. Scheduled for launch on September 9th, this PC-exclusive beta test is designed to run indefinitely to allow Radiant Entertainment to thoroughly test their entire online infrastructure before the game’s official release. This strategy, while rare in fighting games, has a solid justification behind it.

For six years now, the gaming community has been aware of “Project 2XKO,” and its pre-production phase began shortly after Riot Games acquired Radiant Entertainment in 2016. Both Radiant’s developers and Riot’s producers have longed for its release, so despite being in an extended closed beta test, it can be considered a soft launch. This is reminiscent of how Valve managed the rollout of their new MOBA, “Deadlock.” Although “Project 2XKO” will soon reach the public, addressing its initial concern has led to the emergence of another issue equally significant in size.

Wishes For 2XKO To Launch Will Be Granted, But There’s A Catch

The issues with the game 2XKO, as previously mentioned, encompass some technical glitches, but the main issue lies in its content. When Radiant and Riot announced that 2XKO would debut with ten characters, those eagerly anticipating the game felt let down at best. Upon learning about a League of Legends fighting game, particularly a tag fighter, many began brainstorming extensive rosters of characters they hoped to see in it. The initial roster of ten characters falls short of expectations and doesn’t even touch upon the competition posed by Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, which is rapidly gaining control over the tag fighter genre.

2XKO’s Roster Will Hurt Its Launch

In light of the situation, the upcoming beta release of 2XKO seems like adding more pain to its struggles. While it’s set to debut, only eight out of ten anticipated characters will be available, with uncertainty surrounding the condition of the progression, cosmetics, and arcade mode. Despite the game’s shiny finish, it’s likely the free fighting game aspect that initially captivates players. Radiant Entertainment and Riot Games are optimistic about a swift expansion of the roster post-launch, but 2XKO must navigate challenging circumstances in the competitive landscape of live-service games and smaller tag fighters if it’s to find solid ground.

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2025-07-23 19:50