Riot Games has made a name for itself creating incredible, competitive, esports-ready games, most of which are entrenched in its League of Legends universe. 2XKO is its attempt at a tag-team fighting game, and while it's been in the works for some time, there's finally a glimmer of hope for those keen to play it. Riot has confirmed that a 2XKO closed beta will arrive this September alongside the next LoL champion that's being added to the roster: Vi.
"We know you've been waiting, and we're finally ready to take the next big step for 2XKO," says executive producer Tom Cannon. "Our closed beta starts September 9, globally. Closed beta marks the start of us rolling out this game for everyone - our goal is to keep the game up, online, and available from here on out." That's excellent news, considering that Riot announced earlier this year that it had to push back its timelines for the game and reduce the size of some playtests. The beta will begin for PC only, but console platforms will be added later down the line. There's also full cross-progression, so you can switch between platforms whenever you want without losing any progress.
The full 2XKO release date is still technically slated for 2025, and while I'm sceptical about Riot hitting that target, given it's hitting closed beta in September, there's been no mention today of it getting pushed into 2026. It's a good sign, but I'll be impressed if 2XKO does manage to launch (even in a full open beta or early access state) this calendar year.
Riot has also confirmed that alongside the existing cast of 2XKO characters players have been using in Alpha Labs playtests, there will be a newcomer to the roster. Vi will be playable from day one of the closed beta, but if you're heading to Evo in Las Vegas next month, you'll get to try her out earlier at the 2XKO booth.
So, to recap, the 2XKO closed beta begins on Tuesday, September 9 on PC only, but will gradually expand to let in more players on other platforms. If you participated in previous playtests, you'll already have access to the closed beta. If you didn't, you can sign up to get access right here.
For more, check out our lists of the best fighting games and the best multiplayer games on PC right now.
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