2XKO Early Access Has Landed: Everything You Need to Know!

Riot Games' highly anticipated 2v2 fighting game, 2xko (formerly Project L), has officially entered Early Access on PC! Get ready to jump into the action, explore the roster, and see what the community is buzzing about.

TL;DR: Your Quick Guide to 2XKO Early Access

• Early Access is LIVE on PC: Jump in now, with console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S arriving later.
• Warwick and Teemo Join the Fray: These fan-favorite League of Legends champions are new additions to the playable roster, each with unique mechanics.
• Free-to-Play, But Beware the Bundles: 2XKO is free to download, focusing on cosmetic sales, though a $100 "Arcane" skin bundle has sparked some debate.

Riot Games Unleashes 2XKO: Get Ready to Rumble in Early Access!

After a long wait and plenty of teasers under its former "Project L" moniker, Riot Games has finally dropped 2XKO into Early Access! If you've been itching for a new tag fighter with that signature League of Legends flair, your time has come. This free-to-play brawler is hitting PC first, with console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S planned for a full release down the line.

The Early Access launch kicked off on October 7, 2025, with some parts of Asia and Oceania getting access on October 8. And get this: Riot has confirmed there will be no more account resets from here on out! So, everything you earn now, you keep. If you were one of the lucky few in the closed beta, you're getting a special "Closed Beta Boss" title to show off your veteran status.

Meet the Initial Champion Lineup and Fresh Faces

Season 0 of 2XKO introduces a solid roster of champions ready to throw down. You can pick from familiar faces like Ahri, Blitzcrank, Braum, Darius, Ekko, Illaoi, Jinx, Vi, and Yasuo. But the real excitement for Early Access players is the addition of two new champs: the fierce beast Warwick and the tricky scout Teemo!

The game also comes with new stages to battle it out on, including Bandlewood Crossing and Firelight Run. And for those who love to master their moves, Combo Trials and a detailed Training Mode Frame Data Bar are part of the package.

Warwick's Wild Gameplay Deep Dive: Unleashing the Uncaged Wrath

Let's talk about Warwick, because he's really making waves! This character is all about being a savage, self-healing beast, transformed from the man Vander by Singed's experiments in Zaun. He's designed to be a brutal force in your team composition, especially when paired with someone like Yasuo.

Warwick brings some unique mechanics to the fighting game arena:

• Wrath of the Beast & Rage of the Beast: These special moves allow Warwick to avoid projectiles while in his run state. Rage of the Beast offers an uppercut finish.
• Primal Leap: A flip-style move reminiscent of Mai Shiranui from KOF, capable of hitting opponents right from its startup. He can even perform a wall-clinging move!
• Bloodlust Meter: This meter builds up as you use S2 attacks. Once activated, Bloodlust significantly increases Warwick's damage output. Crucially, the meter progress stays even after you tag him out, so you can plan your assaults strategically.
• Feral Feast: Warwick's signature bite attack that can actually siphon away an opponent's Recovery Life, turning their potential healing into your advantage.
• Infinite Duress: For fans of quick, zipping aerial attacks like Cammy or Spider-Man, Warwick can cross the screen with multiple aerial hits.
• Self-Healing Ultimate: This is huge! After activating Bloodlust and performing his Ultimate, Warwick can regain a significant portion of his health—around 30%! This makes him incredibly resilient, almost "un-KOable" as some might say.

While he gains massive power and survivability, it's noted that his large hurtbox can make some of his whiffed attacks easy to counter. So, while Warwick is a beast, he's not invincible!

The Cinematic Trailer and Its "Ties That Bind"

Before Early Access even launched, Riot dropped a fantastic four-minute cinematic trailer titled "The Ties That Bind." This video is not just visually stunning, showcasing an epic battle between Ahri and Ekko, but it also features a brand-new theme song with powerhouse vocals from Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox!

The track itself is a "techno-metal banger," blending heavier electronic instrumentation with LaPlante's "pop-mode" clean singing, creating a futuristic, lab-grade sound. Spiritbox's Josh Gilbert also co-produced the track. It's a fresh take that feels perfectly suited for a modern fighting game and a testament to teamwork, which is, of course, a core element of 2XKO's 2v2 gameplay.

Navigating the Microtransactions: The $100 Arcane Bundle Debate

As a free-to-play title, 2XKO's monetization strategy has been a hot topic, especially regarding the cosmetic items. Riot Games is known for this model with League of Legends and Valorant, and 2XKO is following suit, focusing solely on skins and chromas rather than any "pay-to-win" elements.

However, the launch of the $100 Ultra Starter Edition "Arcane" bundle has sparked some frustration within the community. This bundle includes highly coveted Arcane skins for Vi, Jinx, and Ekko, along with all their chromas, an Arcane sticker set, and 5,000 KO points (in-game currency), plus everything from the cheaper Deluxe and Standard bundles. While the overall value might exceed $100 if bought individually, the sticking point for many players is the lack of an option to buy these popular Arcane skins separately.

Fans on Reddit and social media have voiced their disappointment, with comments like, "No separate buy? I only play Vi." Some feel it's a "kind of predatory" tactic, forcing players to spend big when they might only want one or two skins. Riot has faced similar criticism for monetization in their other games, but the debate highlights a common tension in the F2P landscape: balancing aggressive monetization with player satisfaction. It remains to be seen if the "masses open their wallets" despite the "vocal hardcore" complaints.

The Game Director's Vision: Shaun Rivera on 2XKO's Path

We got some awesome insights from Shaun Rivera, the Game Director for 2XKO, who was interviewed at the Tokyo Game Show 2025. He shared some cool details about the game's journey and Riot's philosophy:

"We first showed it to the world as 'Project L' during the League of Legends 10th anniversary event. At the time, it was a one-on-one game... when we asked players what they thought of it through playtesting, many of them said, 'It's alright, it's fun,' but I wanted to make a game that excited people, so I wasn't very happy with the results. As a result of thinking about 'the fun of the game,' we came to the conclusion that playing with friends is what makes it enjoyable."

— Shaun Rivera, 2XKO Game Director

This commitment to player excitement led to the game's 2v2 focus, though you can still play 1v1 or even 1v2 (which Rivera likens to a "boss battle"!). He emphasized that making the 2-player and 1-player experiences feel equally balanced was a significant challenge, but they pulled it off.

Rivera also reiterated Riot's commitment to the free-to-play model, ensuring that only cosmetic items are for sale, preventing any "Pay to Win" scenarios. When it comes to future champions, he confirmed they will primarily be from the vast League of Legends universe, respecting the existing lore and fan base. He also expressed strong confidence in his team's ability to adapt any LoL champion into 2XKO's fighting system.

Importantly, Riot is keen on supporting the fighting game community (FGC). Rivera stated they respect the FGC's history and want to empower tournament organizers. Their "First Impact" initiative is a big step, supporting 22 community tournaments across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Early Reviews and What's Coming Next for 2XKO

Early impressions are positive! IGN's Early Access review gave 2XKO an 8/10, praising its ability to "distill what's fun about tag fighters while mitigating a lot of the pain points that typically come with the territory." This suggests that Riot has managed to create an accessible yet deep fighting experience.

While the game is in Early Access, Riot isn't sitting still. Ranked mode for 2XKO arrived shortly after the initial launch on October 9, coinciding with patch 1.0.1.1. So, if you're competitive, you can already start climbing the ladders! We're also eagerly awaiting news on the console release dates for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, which are expected in the "near future" or "by year's end" for the full release.

Riot Games has a strong track record of listening to player feedback, actively monitoring social media, conducting surveys, and recording play data. So, expect continuous improvements and new content as 2XKO evolves through its Early Access period.

Frequently Asked Questions About 2XKO Early Access When did 2XKO Early Access release? 2XKO's Early Access launched on October 7, 2025, for PC, with some regions in Asia and Oceania getting access on October 8, 2025. Is 2XKO free-to-play? Yes, 2XKO is completely free to download and play. Its monetization focuses on cosmetic items like skins and chromas, ensuring no "pay-to-win" mechanics. Which platforms is 2XKO available on? Currently, 2XKO Early Access is available on PC (Steam). PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are planned for the full release, coming in the near future. Are account resets happening in 2XKO Early Access? No, Riot Games has confirmed there will be no more account resets from the Early Access period onwards. Everything you earn, you keep! Sources

• Consequence (Heavy Song of the Week: Courtney LaPlante’s 2XKO Track “Ties That Bind” Is a Techno-Metal Banger)
• Shacknews (2XKO: Warwick’s Gnarly Deep Dive Gameplay Revealed)
• Shacknews (ShackStream: The Lab - Unleashing the beast with Warwick in 2XKO)
• IGN (2XKO - Official 'Warwick, the Uncaged Wrath of Zaun' Dev Update Gameplay Overview)
• Saiga NAK (Interview with Shaun Rivera, Game Director of "2XKO"!)
• Esports.gg (2XKO Season 0 patch notes, release date, and details)
• MMORPG.com (The New '2XKO' Cinematic Trailer Features "Ties That Bind")
• DualShockers (2XKO: Global Release Times For The New Riot Games Fighting Game)