Tom Cannon, Executive Producer of 2XKO, has outlined the fighting game’s roadmap as it enters Early Access, emphasising the team’s commitment to serving the fighting game community.
In a detailed announcement ahead of the Early Access launch, Cannon revealed plans for seasonal content, ranked improvements and continued support for grassroots tournaments through 2025 and beyond.
The Early Access phase, which recently began with an official cinematic trailer, marks a shift from closed testing to live service development. Season 0 will run through the end of 2025, featuring a Battle Pass, in-game store and improved ranked systems based on feedback from the Closed Beta.
Cannon outlined the studio’s vision in a blog post: “Our vision for 2XKO is a game and team built to serve the FGC, both today and (hopefully!) for generations to come.”
Starting in 2026, Riot aims to deliver five seasons annually, each lasting approximately 10 weeks and introducing a new champion. The current roster includes six playable fighters in Season 0.
The developer has addressed several community concerns from the Closed Beta, including improvements to ranked placements, match fairness, and climbing tempo. Players will now be able to access Training Mode between ranked matches without returning to the lobby.
First Impact Tournament Programme Launches
Alongside the Early Access launch, Riot has expanded its support for community tournaments through the First Impact programme. The company is sponsoring 22 community-led events through 2025, spanning online and in-person tournaments across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Each First Impact tournament features a Riot-sponsored pot bonus, with winning duos claiming an additional $2,500 (~£1,875) Duo Bounty and an exclusive Local Legend player title. The programme includes major events such as Evo France’s 2 NICE KO tournament in October and DreamHack Atlanta in November.
According to the announcement, tournament organisers retain ownership of their events while Riot provides financial support and promotional assistance. The initiative aims to establish 2XKO’s competitive scene ahead of the game’s full launch.
Console Development Continues
While Early Access is currently limited to PC, Cannon confirmed that console development remains a priority. The team is working to transition from the console betas deployed during Alpha Labs to a fully featured release, though no timeline was provided.
The studio previously ran successful Alpha Labs and Closed Beta phases, which informed the current Early Access build. Cannon acknowledged that changes will continue throughout Early Access as the team identifies what works within the live service model.
Season 0 also introduces Champion Mastery systems and the game’s first cosmetic offerings through the in-game store. Riot states it will monitor player engagement with content and progression systems to inform future updates.
The Early Access phase represents 2XKO’s transition from testing to ongoing development, with Cannon noting that the team will be “making changes live” as they establish the game’s systems. The full launch is planned once all core features, including console support and the complete seasonal structure, are operational.
