2XKO Hopes to Revolutionize Tag-Team fighting Games

Riot Games' highly anticipated 2XKO (formerly Project L) is poised to revolutionize the tag-team fighting game genre. This article explores its innovative tag team features and the recently available playable demo.

2XKO: A Fresh Take on Tag Team Fighting

Four-Player Co-op with Duo Play

Showcased at EVO 2024 (July 19-21), 2XKO offers a unique twist on the 2v2 formula with its Duo Play mechanic. Instead of one player controlling both characters, two players team up, each controlling a champion. This results in thrilling four-player matches, with each team comprised of a Point character and an Assist character. The developers even demonstrated the possibility of exciting 2v1 showdowns.

The tag system itself is built around three core mechanics:

• Assist Actions: The Point character can call upon their Assist for powerful special moves.
• Handshake Tag: The Point and Assist characters seamlessly swap roles.
• Dynamic Save: The Assist can intervene to break up enemy combos, adding a crucial layer of strategic depth.

Unlike some tag fighters where a single knockout ends the match, 2XKO requires both players on a team to be defeated. Even after being knocked out, a fallen champion remains active as an Assist, offering unexpected strategic opportunities.

Beyond character selection, 2XKO introduces "Fuses"—synergy options that significantly alter team playstyles. The demo showcased five Fuses:

• PULSE: Rapid attacks unleash devastating combos.
• FURY: Below 40% health, gain bonus damage and a special dash cancel.
• FREESTYLE: Allows two Handshake Tags in quick succession.
• DOUBLE DOWN: Combine ultimate moves with your partner for ultimate destruction.
• 2X ASSIST: Empower your partner with multiple assist actions simultaneously.

Game designer Daniel Maniago highlighted on Twitter (X) that the Fuse system is designed to "amplify player expression" and enable devastating combos, particularly for well-coordinated duos.

Choose Your Champion

The playable demo featured six champions—Braum, Ahri, Darius, Ekko, Yasuo, and Illaoi—each with movesets reflecting their League of Legends counterparts. While fan favorites like Jinx and Katarina were absent from this Alpha Lab Playtest, the developers confirmed their future inclusion.

2XKO Alpha Lab Playtest

2XKO, a free-to-play fighter joining the likes of MultiVersus, launches on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in 2025. Registration for the Alpha Lab Playtest (August 8-19) is currently open. Further details on the playtest and registration can be found [here].