2XKO announces its Early Access: release date and everything you need to know about Riot Games’ new fighter
Riot Games has officially confirmed the Early Access release of 2XKO for October 7, 2025. The long-awaited tag-team fighter, set in the League of Legends universe, will launch free to play on Windows PC, with no invitation required. Anyone can download the client on day one and jump straight in.
A crucial detail: everything you unlock during Early Access will persist into future seasons—champions, skins, and progression rewards are permanent. This makes the Early Access window a true “head start,” not a temporary test.
Season 0 kicks off the 2XKO experience
The launch marks the beginning of Season 0, a foundational season designed to stress the online infrastructure, refine balance, and gather community feedback for competitive systems. Alongside the rollout, Riot will add the tenth playable champion, available on day one but still unannounced at the time of writing.
Here’s the Early Access roster available on October 7:
- Ahri
- Blitzcrank
- Braum
- Darius
- Ekko
- Illaoi
- Jinx
- Vi
- Yasuo
- Mystery champion (TBA)
The lineup already shows strong stylistic variety—slick, technical duelists like Yasuo and Ekko, bruisers and tanks such as Braum and Blitzcrank, plus ranged pressure from Jinx or grappling power from Illaoi and Darius.
2026 seasonal roadmap
Looking beyond launch, Riot outlined a clear cadence for live content. Throughout 2026, 2XKO will feature five seasons. Each season will bring:
- One new playable champion
- Fresh in-game content and features
- Progression rewards tied to seasonal play
The model echoes Riot’s approach in League of Legends and Valorant: regular, meaningful updates that keep the meta evolving and the community engaged.
Introducing First Impact: 22 community-run tournaments with Riot backing
To support grassroots competition from day one, Riot unveiled First Impact, a program of 22 community-organized events across the Americas, Europe, and Asia running through the end of 2025. These tournaments remain locally managed but receive official sponsorship and prize support from Riot.
The headline incentive is the Duo Bounty: $2,500 USD added on top of each event’s prize pool for the team that takes first place. Winners also earn an exclusive in-game player title—“Local Legend”—to showcase their achievement in 2XKO.
First stop: Evo France – 2 NICE KO
The opening First Impact event is Evo France: 2 NICE KO, hosted by The MIXUP Crew in Nice, France, from October 10–12, 2025—just days after Early Access begins. Anchoring the circuit to a marquee FGC stage signals Riot’s intent: 2XKO aims to live inside the fighting game ecosystem, not around it.
What Early Access means for players
Launching as free-to-play with persistent progression changes the usual expectations for an Early Access fighter. Rather than a short beta, Season 0 is a real starting line:
- Learn tag-team systems and build team synergy as the meta forms.
- Secure cosmetics and rewards you’ll keep indefinitely.
- Provide feedback that can shape balance, netcode priorities, and tournament features before the 2026 season cadence begins.
For competitors, the timing is ideal: local scenes can spin up brackets immediately, while the First Impact circuit offers an official runway with real prize boosts and visibility.
Why 2XKO is one to watch
Riot has already proven it can enter established genres and thrive—Valorant is the most recent example. 2XKO follows a similar blueprint:
- Recognizable champions from one of gaming’s biggest universes.
- Accessible, modern netcode and live-service cadence designed for longevity.
- Grassroots + official support to energize locals and majors alike.
With a strong initial roster, a transparent seasonal plan, and a global community circuit from day one, 2XKO is positioned to become a fixture of the FGC.
Final thoughts
Circle the date: October 7, 2025. That’s when 2XKO opens its doors to everyone on PC, entirely free and with all progress carrying forward. Expect Season 0 to set the tone, a mystery tenth champion to spice up team comps, and a 22-event First Impact tour to put early results on the map.
Whether you’re a lab monster, a local regular, or a spectator ready for a new rivalry, Riot’s fighter is finally stepping into the ring—and it’s bringing the community with it.
