The fighting game community has been buzzing with excitement ever since Riot Games announced its entry into the genre with 2XKO (formerly known as Project L). As the developers behind the hugely successful League of Legends and Valorant, Riot Games has earned a reputation for delivering top-tier experiences. Now, they’re setting their sights on revolutionizing the world of fighting games.
In this comprehensive blog, we’ll dive deep into everything we know so far about 2XKO, including its characters, gameplay mechanics, release date, and why it’s generating so much hype. Whether you’re a seasoned fighting game veteran or a newcomer curious about Riot’s next big thing, you’re in the right place.
What is 2XKO?
Originally announced back in 2019 under the name Project L, 2XKO is a 2v2 tag-team-based fighting game set in the League of Legends universe, also referred to as Runeterra. The title is being developed by Riot Games under its Riot Forge brand, with Tom Cannon and Tony Cannon heading up the project. These names are legends within the fighting game community—Tom Cannon helped found Evo, the biggest fighting game tournament in the world. The brothers were responsible for the development of GGPO (Good Game Peace Out), arguably the most respected netcode solution in the online fighting game community.
What’s Behind the Name Change 2XKO?
In February 2024, Riot officially announced the game title: 2XKO. The name cleverly reflects the game’s 2v2 tag-team system. The “2X” highlights the two-fighter mechanic, while “KO” is a term recognized in the fighting-game community as meaning “knock out.” Riot wants to make a game that has a low barrier to entry for casual players but a deep and rewarding experience for the hardcore fighting-game enthusiast.
2XKO Gameplay Overview
The assist-based 2-on-2 combat is the core of 2XKO. Players choose any two champions from the League of Legends roster to switch between the two fighters on the fly. In pair mode, one player controls each fighter, thereby making cooperative gameplay and coordination a huge factor.
Core Mechanics:
Tag assist: Strike out and switch your characters in mid-combo or with assist attacks to extend your offensive.
Dynamic Movement: Expect a fast-paced action with air dashes, wall bounces, and creative combo potential.
Simplified Controls: Riot promises easy-to-learn controls, input shortcuts to access complex moves, and depth with no compromises.
Rollback Netcode: GGPO provides a smooth online experience with minimum input lag, critical for competitive play.
Along with these core features, Riot has touted an intention to lower barriers for entry into fighting games. They want 2XKO to be accessible for League of Legends fans who aren’t used to fighting games yet still deliver on the depth expected by hardcore players.
Characters Confirmed So Far
The League of Legends universe, in which events of 2XKO transpire, will naturally host a cast of champions largely inspired by champions already known and familiar to the fans. The game characters are reimagined as fighting game characters, possessing newer move sets, fighting styles, and visual cabinet appeal.
Here’s all of the confirmed ones so far:
1. Ahri
Ahri is a quick, agile fighter able to control space and pressure opponents with her Orb of Deception and Fox-Fire abilities. A design of the character that will appeal to those who enjoy zoning and mix-ups, she combines projectiles with mobility.
2. Darius
The Noxian juggernaut with the axe comes to battle. Darius is an exceptionally heavy-hitter around the mid-range, specializing in devastating combos and high damage output. The Noxian Guillotine provides for a brutal finisher.
3. Ekko
A stylish time-manipulating fighter. Nimble rushdown character placing more emphasis on speed, mobility, and unpredictability. Able to rewind time with his Chronobreak mechanic, giving Ekko unique combo opportunities and defensive options.
4. Jinx
The favorite loose cannon is here, loaded with explosive weapons. Projectiles, traps, and area control are the primary methods Jinx uses to keep her opponents disoriented; her erratic fighting style complements her unpredictable personality.
5. Illaoi
The Kraken Priestess brings heavy-hitting attacks and summons mechanics. Using tentacles for space control, Illaoi punishes anyone who dares come close. A powerful bruiser with strong denial and area control.
6. Yasuo
Wind swordsman makes his fighting game debut with flashy combos and accurate sword strikes. With his agility and neat juggling of air-bound opponents, Yasuo is a stylish character with a high-skill ceiling reputation. He also has unique defensive capabilities to offer due to his Wind Wall.
Riot has confirmed there will be additional champions revealed over time. With tens of champions on their league roster, expect to see a buffet of different play styles and abilities.
Visuals and Art Direction
Simply put, the game has a striking, highly stylized 2.5D art style: 3D models and 2D gameplay. The graphics are bright, colorful, and highly stylized, very much true to League of Legends aesthetics but redefined for an utterly new genre.
Every champion is scrupulously reinterpreted for the fighting game format. They have very smooth and dynamic animations with a lot of clarity in the hit effects and a nice feeling during the fight. Judging from the trailers and gameplay footage released so far, it is clear that Riot is putting a lot of effort into the polish and visual clarity, two very important characteristics for any fighting game.
Release Date and Platforms
Riot Games announced a 2025 release for 2XKO. Although there’s no specific date, the developers confirmed a series of playtests for 2024, just to cheer community feedback and proper gameplay finetuning until close to launch.
Platform:
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
PC (Via Riot Client)
Some interesting information about the game is that it supports cross-platform and cross-progression on all platforms. No matter if you’re playing on console or PC, your progress and matchmaking will be a breeze. GTA 6 leaks
Why You Should Be Excited
1. Riot History
Riot Games has crafted genre-defining titles, from League of Legends, which revolutionized the MOBA space, to Valorant, which has made big waves in the competitive FPS sphere. With the Cannon brothers in the line-up and Riot’s deep pockets, 2XKO promises to be one hell of a competitor in the fighting games arena.
2. Rollback Netcode
Whether any modern fighting game will stand the test of time is pretty much reliant on its online play infrastructure. Riot’s investment into GGPO rollback netcode means that 2XKO will have one of the best, most comprehensive online experiences made available.
3. Accessibility + DepthRiot seems to want to embrace both the novice and veteran fighting game players. The simplified inputs make it relatively easier to pick up for beginners, while the assist mechanics and team-based style would certainly add a depth of competition.
4. A Living Universe
By leveraging League of Legends, 2XKO now relates to an enormous world with numerous iconic characters and lore. The idea is to release a roster and more content for the game with the passing time, making the game a living, breathing game in conjunction with its community.
Final Thoughts
Setting the pace is Riot Games, which is stepping into the fighting game arena with 2XKO. A winning formula is in play with the characters beloved from League, fast-paced 2v2 tag gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and GGPO netcode. 2XKO is meant to be fun and competitive, whether you love fighting games or are a die-hard League fan.
As the 2025 launch draws near, more reveals, character announcements, and opportunities to demo the game during playtests will also come. Until then, stay tuned—Riot’s fighting game revolution is really just kicking off. Trailer