Everything we know about 2XKO: Character roster, release window & more
Riot Games2XKO (formerly Project L) is Riot Games’ upcoming fighting game set in the League of Legends universe. Here’s what we know so far, including the roster of confirmed champions, trailers, a possible release window, and more.
The League of Legends universe has been ever-expanding since Riot released a can of worms during the League 10 Anniversary celebrations in October 2019.
Riot has confirmed that Project L will be ramping up development and looking to release in the near future as 2XKO, with more and more characters getting revealed every day
Here’s what we know so far about Riot’s League of Legends-inspired fighting game.
Riot GamesDoes 2XKO have a release date?
Though we’ve finally gotten a name, it still doesn’t have a solid release date. However, we do finally have a release window: 2025. We don’t yet know when in 2025 it’ll come out, but Riot’s aiming to release the game that year.
Additionally, Riot Games has announced the Alpha Lab playtest that’ll allow people to get their hands on the game at home.
2XKO has been playable at multiple events during its time being labeled as Project L, so the game’s development is still well underway. However, with how long this game has been teased up until this point, it really is anyone’s guess as to when we’ll actually get to play it.
What platforms is 2XKO coming to?
It’s been confirmed that 2XKO is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. At this time, it appears that the Xbox One and PS4 aren’t planned platforms for this game to be released on.
What League of Legends characters will be in 2XKO?
Here’s a full list of League of Legends champions confirmed for Project L so far:
- Ahri
- Braum
- Darius
- Ekko
- Illaoi
- Jinx
- Yasuo
While there’s sure to be a larger roster on launch, these 6 fighters already bring a ton of variety to the cast. From a heavy bruiser like Darius to a nimble, projectile-based champion like Ahri, the myriad League of Legends champions 2XKO devs have to pull from give them a lot of options.
That said, some characters are more obvious additions than others. The recently-announced Yasuo is one of the more obvious fighters to add, considering his popularity and how well his League of Legends abilities lend themselves to a fighting game setting.
2XKO/Project L trailers & teasers
League 10 Anniversary Announcement
Project L was briefly revealed during Riot’s League of Legends 10-year anniversary stream back in October 2019. Tom Cannon, the game’s director, spoke briefly about their ambitions, with a first look at prototyped gameplay.
(Trailer begins at 33:37)
RiotX Arcane Epilogue Trailer
The next time we saw Project L was during the RiotX Arcane event in November 2021 – two years on. The game evolved a lot since it was first shown off, with Riot explaining some of the game’s mechanics.
EVO 2023 How to Play Trailer
The next trailer in line is one created to show those in attendance at EVO 2023 how to play the game at a base level before they hopped into the action in-person.
2XKO Announcement Trailer
we've got next pic.twitter.com/alcE6nZQQq
— 2XKO (@Play2XKO) February 22, 2024
2XKO Illaoi Trailer
2XKO Braum Trailer
2XKO game mechanics
2XKO is a 2.5D “assist-based” fighting game. The characters will be 3D models fighting on a horizontal 2D plane – similar to Street Fighter 6.
It will have tag-team mechanics, where you pilot a squad of two different champions, swapping them in and out to land some nasty combos.
“This is the right foundation to build a game that rewards strategic team building and on-the-fly decision making, on top of strong fighting fundamentals,” the developers said in a November 2021 update.
Here’s a full breakdown of what we know so far.
Riot GamesOffense
Project L’s base mechanics when it comes to hitting the opponent are fairly bog-standard within the fighting game genre. It’s got a mix of highs, mids, and lows that allow players to string together combos and juggle their opponent.
Every character has a button devoted to a unique mechanic in their kit, similar to something like Guilty Gear Strive. They also each have access to a launcher (down forward heavy) and anti-air attacks (down heavy), along with other uniform offensive options.
Each champion also has two ultimate moves, one of which costs 1 bar on the ultimate meter, while the other costs 2. As is usual in fighting games, the higher meter ultimate does a lot more damage.
Defense
Project L has a number of unique defensive options that allow you to control space and reward players for reading their opponent.
The Push Block and Retreating Guard allow players to expend meter for some interesting defensive options to either create or close space between them and their opponent. These are the “safe” defense moves, ones that aren’t easily punished and can be used in almost any situation. The biggest downside is they always use up one bar of your meter.
Parries are also something all characters have, costing 1 meter to do either a normal or low parry. The cost of a parry will be refunded if successful, but missing the window for parry timing will leave you vulnerable. It’s a high-risk, high-reward defense option.
Meanwhile, Dynamic Saves make use of your partner and allow you to swap them in if you’re caught in a nasty combo string. This works even if that partner is KO’d. Dynamic Saves can also be countered, leaving your partner vulnerable to getting carried into yet another combo.
Tag Mechanics
Project L allows two players to play on one team, with each person controlling one of the characters on the team (reminiscent of Street Fighter x Tekken’s Scramble Battle mode). And in this kind of multiplayer, the person who isn’t in the battle will have to stay on their toes.
Solo players can fully manipulate both champions, weaving together combos and swapping characters in and out with assists. However, people who play together on the same team will have to coordinate combos and create opportunities for their ally.
All of this is tied to the Team button. Assists can be charged up or just used normally, and each champion has two different assist options.
Teammates can be quickly called in to help carry a combo via Assists, or swapped in to create a combo of their own via a Handshake Tag. Additionally, those who are KO’d will get access to a Last Stand attack, something that allows them to turn the tide even if they’re out of the game.
Fuse System
Riot GamesThe Fuse System allows players to pick one of, at the time of writing, four options that drastically change the way you play with your tag partner. Here are the four Fuse options:
- Fury: Below 40% health, deal bonus damage and gain a special dash cancel.
- Freestyle: Handshake Tag twice in one sequence.
- Double Down: Combine your ultimate with your partner.
- 2X Assist: Your partner can use two assist options back-to-back
These Fuse options have the potential to create a ton of additional combo options, particularly with Freestyle and 2X Assist.
Riot is also using their RiotDirect netcode that has helped reduce ping for Valorant and League of Legends, with some rollback elements.
Will 2XKO have anti-cheat and rollback netcode?
Yes, 2XKO will have an anti-cheat system and rollback netcode.
Riot did not delve deep into their rollback netcode, however, ensured they would be using the same tech they have been using in Valorant and League of Legends.
Additionally, their proprietary anti-cheat, Vanguard, will be implemented into 2XKO, just like in Valorant and LoL. However, the anti-cheat has long been controversial.
We will update this piece with more 2XKO news as it comes to light.