2XKO is already right at home in the FGC

In a private hotel bar, filled with streamers, competitive players, and game developers, the focus at one side of the establishment was not centered on conversation or drinks. Instead, nearly every eye in the area was glued to a single TV in front of a couch where SonicFox and Leffen traded notes and laughed while playing 2XKO. 

Every year I attend Evo, I am lucky enough to be shown glimpses of what fighting games are going to offer for years to come. But Riot Games doesn't need to rely on that anymore, because 2XKO is already making an impact prior to widespread playability. 

With Riot set to launch the Alpha Lab, 2XKO’s first at-home play test on Aug. 8, many players will get their first chance to play the tag fighter ahead of its current 2025 release window. Prior to this, the game had only been publicly playable at big events and fighting game tournaments, such as Combo Breaker and Evo—where I was able to get multiple sessions with early builds.

I don’t have much to say about the game that I didn’t already say in my hands-on preview from 2XKO’s first showing at Evo 2023, though it is clear the team at Riot is taking feedback very seriously when making improvements. But if you weren’t one of the thousands of people waiting in line at the 2XKO booth, here are some of my thoughts on the changes to this build.

Both Illaoi and Braum fit seamlessly into the game and feel great, further proving that the detailed approach Riot is taking with each character is working perfectly to make them approachable while maintaining depth. 

Some gameplay changes, specifically the previously confirmed Ahri rework, also really helped work out some of the rougher edges. And with the introduction of new mechanics like Pulse Fuse to clear up that flow for newcomers, things are still improving as development continues.

“We want to make sure as a baseline there are clear moments that are easily understandable that you should assist at these times or help out your teammate at these times: because that’s a huge part of character mastery as well. Once that baseline is hit, you can find and sort of carve out your own unique assist calls and team play,” Montano said to Ladd.

I still think 2XKO has the most potential of any fighting game to bring a slightly more casual audience into the FGC thanks to its use of existing, memorable characters and free-to-play nature. Pair that with the ability to team up with a friend or go it alone, and the variety Riot is going to offer here compared to even other tag fighters already sets the game apart before it hits mass market. 

I was also lucky enough to get some extra time with the game at an event outside of Evo during the weekend, where I got to chat with multiple members of the dev team. They were active in asking for feedback and opinions, along with ways they could improve the gameplay and presentation throughout the night, even as we were enjoying ourselves “after hours.”

That side event, along with various behind-the-scenes chats with players, media, and developers also solidified my thoughts on why 2XKO is already the most impactful game on the horizon in the FGC, and beyond. 

League of Legends is one of the most popular games in the world and it has an immense amount of crossover in most, non-MOBA gaming communities. The FGC is no different, as you can find plenty of people hitting the Summoner’s Rift whether they be Mortal Kombat pros or Super Smash Bros. talent. And I use those two examples for a reason. 

As I noted in the intro, at a Riot and Red Bull mixer during Evo, I was one of several people who spent upwards of 30 minutes just watching Dominique "SonicFox" McLean, this year's MK1 Evo champion and arguably the greatest fighting game player of all time, play against former Guilty Gear Strive and Smash Melee Evo champ William "Leffen" Hjelte in 2XKO. 

I can’t show you that footage, Sonic did upload some gameplay between the two of them and other top players from Evo Japan on a previous 2XKO build. And, while it might not be the same, I can easily say that the short exhibition I saw—along with some other matches I saw throughout the night—has me extremely hyped for what the game has to offer. 

Following their MK1 Evo victory, Sonic mentioned that they would be taking a break from Mortal Kombat until the next season of content, while also noting that they might drop every other game to focus on 2XKO. This is a sentiment many other pros have also shared, including Leffen, who is currently focused on Guilty Gear and has mostly withdrawn from playing Melee.

“I’m obviously excited for 2XKO, and Riot is obviously a huge company,” Leffen told Virginia Glaze at Dexerto. “For me, it’s not even necessarily about their size, but also about the fact that I met the people who work on the game, and their approach is very different from a Japanese company. They’re very open to criticism. They’re very transparent with what they’re doing.”

Even beyond the players from other games that will give 2XKO a shot—or absolutely no life the Alpha Lab— a lot of the conversations I had with people at Evo centered around how the Riot community is going to react to the game. 

The 2XKO team is crafting a game that is going to be open and inviting to players of all skill levels, but the Riot community has never really seen anything like the FGC. And, with Riot set to integrate with and directly support community-run events, Riot players looking to compete in 2XKO will have the chance to actually attend large open bracket tournaments instead of needing to qualify online first.

I am so excited to see the influx of new players coming in from Riot’s other titles that will get to experience FGC events—and the potential that brings for them to try other games and grow the scenes for other games. This is going to be a massive win for both sides when the game does launch.

The 2XKO Alpha Lab will run from Aug. 8 to 19 on consoles and PC, while the game is currently scheduled to launch in some form in 2025.

I am not without my concerns, but I will save those for another article that can focus on how 2XKO’s launch window and the influence of Riot’s live service and competitive models could hurt the state of the game early and into the future.  

If you want additional 2XKO content, I uploaded my entire Evo 2024 play session with friends, and my good friend Dylan Ladd published an article on the promising future of the game for Rolling Stone. 

The Evo team also uploaded an excellent video delving deeper into how the 2XKO team designs a character with gameplay designer Steve Bankert and lead Champion designer Alex Jaffe. Please go support those projects, and subscribe to this blog for more of my upcoming feature work!