2XKO enters early access and promises 5 new champions in 2026

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 23/09/2025

Riot Games has announced a ton of new details for its League of Legends fighting game, 2XKO.

Currently, 2XKO is in closed beta with lots of content available for PC players.

However, there are still no details on when 2XKO will release on console.

What Riot has announced is when 2XKO will enter early access, what the esports plans for the game are, and what is planned for 2026.

Riot has announced that 2XKO will officially launch in early access for PC players on October 7th.

Early access will be entirely free and, unlike the closed beta, will not require an invite. Anyone can join.

The game will then feature a full season of content and new features, including combo trials, as part of Season 0.

Day one of early access will also see the launch of 2XKO’s 10th champion, who was already leaked.

Additionally, unlike in the closed beta, all progress and content unlocked in early access will stay with players.

Season 0 will be 2XKO’s first true season, and Riot has already confirmed what will come next.

In 2026, 2XKO will go through five seasons in total.

With each season, a new champion will be released. Meaning next year, 2XKO is guaranteed to get at least five new champions.

That will be a new champion almost every two months, which should keep the game feeling very fresh.

Each season will also bring new content and more progression rewards for players to earn.

Riot Games announces support for 2XKO community esports tournaments

As well as the early access news, Riot has also given the first details of 2XKO’s esports scene.

The publishers have announced the First Impact program, which will support 22 community-led tournaments this year.

Riot will be boosting community-run events across the Americas, EMEA and Asia by giving a sponsored boost to the tournaments’ prize pots.

Additionally, if a duo wins a First Impact tournament, they will claim the ‘Duo Bounty’ and receive an extra $2.5k (£1.8k) from Riot.

All winners of these events will also be given an exclusive ‘Local Legend’ player title in-game.

The first of these Riot-sponsored events will be Evo France: 2 NICE KO, organised by TheMIXUP Crew, in Nice, France, from October 10th-12th.

While Riot has a rich history in esports, Head of 2XKO Competitive Play Michael Sherman says they want to focus on the FGC first:

“Tournament Organisers are the foundation of the fighting game community, and they are central to how we’re thinking about 2XKO.

“First Impact aims to shine a light on both the organisers and the competitors who bring the scene to life.

“These events-whether online, locals, or on the biggest stages-are where rivalries form and new talent emerges. We’re excited to support TOs, celebrate duos, and create opportunities for players around the world as2XKO begins its competitive journey.”

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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