“There’s a lot of characters that are close”: 2XKO dev responds to roster concerns at Evo 2025

Whereas Vi was obtainable to play at Evo 2025, the combating sport group nonetheless has some hesitation about embracing Riot’s upcoming fighter, 2XKO. Nevertheless, Esports Insider discovered some solutions at Evo 2025 whereas playtesting the demo.

Introduced in 2021, 2XKO (previously Challenge L) has been slowly revealing gameplay and content material over the previous few years, nevertheless it hasn’t been enough to give the FGC confidence. One of many largest complaints has been the small roster of fighters, however this will change quickly.

I had the pleasure of enjoying 2XKO for the second time at Evo 2025, together with testing out the brand new fighter Vi. Like prior to now, 2XKO felt visually stimulating, with daring and enjoyable animations, and had glorious tag-team methods (though it’s been ‘toned down’ for the reason that final time I performed to be extra newbie pleasant).

A member of the Sport Evaluation and Reside Stability group (and energetic FGC member), Josh ‘NerdJosh’ Jodoian, sat down and performed a couple of rounds with me. Throughout this time, I couldn’t assist however ask in regards to the small roster.

In accordance with NerdJosh, 2XKO began off as a small challenge at Riot. For that cause, the roster was fairly small in the beginning (again when it was Challenge L). Nevertheless, the group began to comprehend that it was rising into one thing so much greater. That’s after they began discussing the addition of extra legends.

However why is it nonetheless fairly small after so a few years?

“We’ve a top quality bar,” NerdJosh mentioned. “There’s a number of characters which might be shut however they’re not presentable but.”

So there you’ve it — extra legends are coming. NerdJosh confirmed that they’re at present engaged on new legends, however he couldn’t give any particulars. The legends and the discharge dates are nonetheless unknown.

I then requested NerdJosh how a legend is picked. League of Legends has an enormous roster to select from, nevertheless it takes a fairly large dialogue amongst higher-ups with regards to which legend is added.

It doubtless takes a number of strategising attributable to 2XKO being 2v2. Which means that they’ve to ensure the legend’s instruments work alongside anyone they’re paired up with. All the legends should additionally really feel very completely different from each other, that means various assaults and playstyles.

Over time, the 2XKO group has additionally been balancing present legends (like Darius, who was getting ‘a number of flack’ for being very sturdy and easy to study) and determining easy methods to make the sport extra approachable for much less aggressive gamers. A technique was to simplify chain dashing and permit for fuse and auto combos collectively.

“We needed individuals to get again into the match sooner whereas nonetheless expressing themselves,” NerdJosh instructed Esports Insider.

2XKO nonetheless has no set launch date, however hopefully extra legends can be introduced this 12 months.