Though we’re still anticipating the release of 2XKO, Shaun Rivera, the game’s director, has finally given us a peek at the launch lineup. Despite the time-consuming development process, 2XKO is gradually coming together, following a successful alpha test last year and gearing up for more in 2025.
In the world of fighting games, much of the pre-launch buzz revolves around which characters will appear. This is a staple for legacy series like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken, which boast devoted fans and iconic fighters. 2XKO, drawing from the vast pool of League of Legends characters, has an abundance of choices. However, fans were likely expecting a broader selection at launch than what they’ll actually get.
During a recent Q&A on the 2XKO Discord channel, Shaun Rivera shared insights not covered in a nearly hour-long dev diary. Addressing queries about the initial character roster, Rivera confirmed that “10 playable champions” will be part of the launch. Understandably, this number might surprise fans, but he assured that the game’s live-service nature means it will expand and evolve continually.
### Why is 2XKO’s Launch Roster So Limited?
Launching with just 10 characters, as 2XKO plans to, is rare in the fighting game world, especially when games like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, or Mortal Kombat 1 typically feature more. Rivera explained that, despite having a huge selection from League of Legends, adding to the roster meant delaying the game’s release. Faced with that choice, the team prioritized getting the game to players sooner rather than later. They plan to enhance the game post-launch with more champions and content updates.
> “We also believe that experiencing these champions through solo/duo play via a number of different fuses provides a lot for folks to explore early on. Being a live service game, it will only improve from there with new champion releases and gameplay updates.”
The journey to develop 2XKO has been anything but brief. Announced initially in 2019 as Project L, it sought to transition League of Legends’ champions into the fighting game scene. Currently, 2XKO has confirmed seven champions: Ekko, Ahri, Darius, Yasuo, Braum, Illaoi, and more recently, Jinx was also confirmed for the game, bringing a familiar face from Arcane into the mix.
2XKO is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the fighting game genre, offering a unique 2v2 format and the chance to engage with beloved characters from League of Legends and Arcane. The game will be free-to-play, with opportunities to playtest anticipated in 2025. Platforms supported will include all major ones with cross-play capabilities and online multiplayer, ensuring a broad reach and inclusive community experience ready to thrive post-launch.
