2XKO’s Tiny Roster?! Here’s Why It’s HUGE!

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This year marks the anticipated debut of the highly-teased tag-team fighter from Riot Games, 2XKO. Although a specific launch date has yet to be confirmed, it was first hinted at in 2019 and officially unveiled in 2021. Over time, development on this game has been moving forward steadily. With characters hailing from the popular League of Legends universe, 2XKO has generated buzz for its innovative premise, captivating 2D visuals, and challenging mechanics that are straightforward to learn but difficult to master.

After wrapping up the initial home playtest in August 2024, game developers rolled out an approximately hour-long gameplay enhancement, featuring Jinx, revamped user interface, diverse gameplay options, and other improvements. Not long after this, on March 27, Game Director Shaun Rivera announced via the official Discord that the upcoming release, 2XKO, will initially feature 10 Champions. Although a smaller number of Champions at launch might appear underwhelming, it could bring benefits, especially considering the significance of having a seamless debut for 2XKO.

2XKO Has Set Ambitious Launch Goals

2XKO’s Development Timeline Has Been Lengthy

The wait for fans keeping tabs on 2XKO‘s progress has been lengthy indeed. Following Riot Games’ acquisition of Radiant Entertainment in March 2016, it was eventually disclosed that the team had begun developing a fighting game for Riot Games. Fast forward to February 2024, and the game, initially referred to as “Project L,” was officially unveiled as 2XKO with a targeted release in 2025.

It’s been speculated that the development of this fighting game has been ongoing for roughly eight to nine years now. Some enthusiasts have voiced their dissatisfaction over the extended production period, pointing out that with just 10 playable characters at its release, it seems likely that it might take a comparable length of time for 2XKO to expand its roster. Furthermore, an exciting aspect about 2XKO is its intention to debut on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC simultaneously, making it the pioneer title in Riot Games’ history to achieve this feat.

2XKO might have positioned itself advantageously and faced certain difficulties by opting for detailed Champion kits that reflect established characters, alongside the tag-team feature. The familiar champions from Runeterra, along with the tag-team system, are likely to excite players seeking diversity, considering that a significant aspect of the game allows them to swap their current Champion for another during battle. This is even more appealing given that League of Legends boasts over 160 characters. However, the complexity and depth of these Champions can prolong development, potentially making it difficult for developers to meet demand.

Why 2XKO’s Smaller Launch Roster Is Advantageous

It’s important to point out that in the same Discord update on March 27, Shaun Rivera explained that he and his team preferred to launch with fewer Champions instead of postponing the release date. He highlighted that since 2XKO is a live-service fighting game, it will continually improve through new Champion releases and gameplay updates in the future. As per the latest update, 2XKO will initially offer these playable Champions:

  • Ahri
  • Braum
  • Darius
  • Ekko
  • Illaoi
  • Jinx
  • Yasuo

Just seven champions have been confirmed for the Alpha Lab 2 playtest so far, and we anticipate that an additional three will join when 2XKO officially launches.

Essentially, Riot Games’ choice to initially release a smaller roster of characters might signal a well-crafted game at its launch date. Additionally, adding more characters could potentially delay the game’s 2025 release, so this strategy might keep 2XKO on schedule. In the interim, gamers can join the second remote playtest for 2XKO, commencing on April 18 and open to players in Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

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2025-04-02 16:08