All we know about : 2XKO

We’re eagerly awaiting it, and so are you, it’s coming soon: here’s everything we know about the upcoming Riot Games title, 2XKO (formerly known as Project L). Announced in 2019 by Tom Cannon, who is overseeing the project, he confirmed that Riot Games is indeed developing a fighting game. Before its official announcement on February 22, 2024, the game was known as Project L.

2XKO is set in the world of Runeterra, where the lore of League of Legends also unfolds. The game is slated for release in 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The name “2XKO”, which stands for “Double KO”, highlights a unique aspect of the game: 2v2 fighting.

Home tests are also planned before the end of the year. Registrations are already open on the game’s official website. While 2XKO will be free, it is almost certain that cosmetics will be available for purchase.

Playable characters

Among the playable characters, Illaoi, Darius, Ahri, Ekko, and Yasuo are 100% confirmed. Jinx and Katarina, seen in a video two years ago, seemed well advanced in their development, but no new information has been released about them since the game’s official announcement.

The Gameplay

Riot Games is redefining the fundamentals of fighting games with 2XKO, featuring a simplified control system that retains high complexity for enthusiasts of the genre. At the heart of this redesign, the control scheme stands out for its accessibility: it utilizes three types of attacks—light, medium, and heavy—assigned to dedicated buttons, along with two buttons for special skills and one for team actions. This design choice eliminates the need to memorize and execute complex button sequences, making the game more accessible to newcomers without sacrificing the strategic depth that experienced players seek.

Each fighter in 2XKO has two level-one ultimates and one level-two ultimate, which can turn the tide of battle in an instant, providing intense and memorable gameplay moments. Defensive options are also robust: the game includes mechanics such as the pushblock, which allows players to repel an aggressive opponent, or the retreating guard, which offers a chance to strategically reposition on the field. For players who excel in timing, parrying offers a risky but potentially game-changing reward, capable of stunning an opponent while recovering part of the super gauge.

Riot Games also enriches the experience with innovative team mechanics. The “Last Stand”, for example, allows for a briefly revived fallen ally to deliver a devastating attack, adding a strategic layer to team fights. The “Fuses” system, meanwhile, enhances cooperation between players with passive effects that can alter the outcome of a battle, such as the ability to chain multiple super-attacks consecutively or to switch between characters within a single combo.

The Map

We already know there will be a map of the dock city of Piltover, a Bilgewater bar map, a forest that could be located in Ionia. Also a desert likely in Noxus, seen in the early videos. However, no further details have been communicated about the desert map since.

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