2XKO early access: Does Riot Games have another hit?

Several weeks into Riot Games’ 2XKO closed beta, and it’s already been a resounding success. You only need to glance at Reddit threads, TikTok, and more to see that the free-to-play fighter has been well-received by fans and press alike. So much so, that Riot Games has confirmed that the closed beta is here to stay, running until the game’s official launch.

This must be a relief for Riot Games, as its success with League of Legends and VALORANT doesn’t guarantee success for its first foray into fighting games with 2XKO. But already, it seems as though it has something special. With this in mind, we’re laying out exactly why that is, and what it could mean for 2XKO’s eventual launch.

Since 2XKO’s closed beta launched on September 16, the reception has been very positive. Despite there being a sharp learning curve to begin with, such as learning the tag-team system and the many attacks that the 10 characters offer, players are enjoying the fast-paced combat and how well parrying works.

Some players are comparing 2XKO to Street Fighter, which must be a nice surprise for Riot Games. This is allegedly down to the combos, blocks, and more that players are quickly warming to. In just three weeks since the closed beta’s launch, practice and ranked modes are already making a firm impression, helping players challenge themselves to get more familiar with their favourite fighters.

Riot Games has also been quick to roll out patches to help quell any overpowering attacks or defence weakpoints, with the latest on September 23 refining Vi and Blitzcrank’s attacks, as well as working on more balancing between the 10 fighters.

A few factors are responsible for 2XKO’s success with the closed beta. First, having nine characters made available meant that players who have access are already trying out which fighter suits them best. This is a big help to various esports players, too, as it will give them an idea of which ones to use and to avoid, respectively. The addition of Teemo, the tenth fighter, was a great touch, too.

There’s also the factor of how fast Riot Games is responding to player feedback. Since the closed beta’s launch, two major patches have quickly nerfed some attacks that would deal unfair damage and fixed other characters’ special moves. It’s a welcome move by Riot Games, as they could have left 2XKO with players and then released a big patch on October 6 once the game is set to move to early access. Instead, plenty of fixes have been made, getting the game ready, and it’s a great approach.

Finally, the reveal from Riot Games that 2XKO will immediately move to an early access model from October 7 was a surprise to many. This means that players who are currently playing 2XKO will still be able to do so in early access on PC. It also heralds the launch of its Season pass content, beginning with Season 0 on October 7. All of this means that hype will only grow with the game, and it could spur more players to give 2XKO a try, especially as Riot Games has confirmed that it’ll be sponsoring 22 community-run tournaments until the end of 2025, calling this the ‘First Impact’ program.

As mentioned, the news that the closed beta will change into an early access model from October 7 has only increased expectations for 2XKO. Usually, some beta sessions, like the one Marvel Tōkon held for two days in September, appear and disappear in quick fashion, so developers can look at feedback from players and improve the game.

However, Riot Games has done something unique with 2XKO’s closed beta. Not only is it changing into early access from October 7, but it’s also been quick to roll out patches and a new fighter in the interim. Having tried 2XKO’s closed beta for several weeks now, my impressions mirror many others. The roster of fighters is very varied, and the tag-team fighting style reminds me of games like Dragon Ball Fighters and Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

It’s also great how helpful 2XKO’s training mode and instructions are. Its ‘lessons’ and full set of moves for the 10 fighters have made me prefer a select few, such as Blitzcrank, Ekko, and Illaoi. Riot Games has yet to confirm if early access mode will be available outside of PC, as the closed beta has been restricted to that platform. As an owner of a PS5 Pro, I’m curious how 2XKO will look and play on my console of choice. But having played Tekken 8 and Virtua Fighter 5 relentlessly on it, I’m looking forward to trying out 2XKO soon.

After years of being in development, 2XKO looks like it could hit the ground running with players when it enters early access on October 7. From player feedback on Reddit, YouTube, and more, as well as my own experience, Riot Games looks like it has a solid foundation to be put up against other fighters in the esports scene, such as Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6.

With 2XKO’s first season (Season 0) launching on October 7, it will be interesting to see how Riot Games approaches the game’s roadmap for 2026. Indeed, with the positive reception the game has already received, it will need to tread carefully to maintain it, and not misunderstand what players would like to see, unlike Namco’s Tekken 8 Season 2 disaster.