Originally, it was announced that a playable build of the game would debut at Evo 2025, featuring the newly added playable character, Vi. However, in a recent announcement video from Riot Executive Producer Tom Cannon, more exciting news followed: a closed beta for 2XKO will go live in September and remain available until the game's global release.

This announcement is particularly significant because the beta will not be temporary; it will remain active and receive ongoing updates until Riot feels the game is in a polished and competitive state. Cannon emphasized that this continuous tuning process is crucial, especially since 2XKO is designed to be a live service title.

Concerns had been mounting among fans due to the long development timeline. Enthusiasm was starting to wane, with many unsure if the game would ever release, or if it would meet expectations when it did. Some in the community even suggested Riot release the game in its current state and fine-tune it post-launch, similar to what happened with Street Fighter V. That game had a rocky start but evolved into a well-regarded title through consistent updates.

Cannon also confirmed that the closed beta will initially be exclusive to PC players. Console players won't be left behind, though, he assured fans that a console version will follow, and the game will support full cross-platform play. Progress made on PC will carry over to consoles, ensuring players won't lose their data when switching platforms.

With Riot’s backing and the hype that has surrounded its development, 2XKO is poised to become a major force in the fighting game community.

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