Riot Doesn’t Regret Announcing 2XKO in 2019

Riot’s Honest Reflections on Prematurely Announcing 2XKO in 2019 Ahead of September Beta

Riot Games is gearing up for the closed beta launch of 2XKO on September 9th, marking the final development phase before the game lands in players’ hands. Anticipation for the game has been building since its initial reveal in late 2019. Producer Tom Cannon and Director Shaun Rivera recently spoke with Eurogamer, admitting that while they likely unveiled 2XKO prematurely, they would not change that decision. Cannon explained, “I don’t know if I would change it. Sure, there’s a cost to putting a deadline on players’ minds—now the joke is it’s been in production for nine years. The truth is that we were deep into research and development when we showed it. But we needed player reactions to the announcement to inspire us to create something special and different.”

Community Engagement Paved the Way for 2XKO’s Transformation and Launch

Both Cannon and Rivera emphasized the critical role of community engagement. Cannon noted that player reactions to the early announcement not only inspired the team to create something special and different but also prompted them to invest more effort, driven by a desire to surprise players. Rivera concurred, stating that developing 2XKO “out in the open” with extensive community input proved incredibly beneficial. Though the process took a significant amount of time, both affirmed its value, asserting that the game would not be the same without this approach, and it is now nearing its launch.

In Case You Missed It

Exciting news for all you fighting game enthusiasts out there! Jonathan Dubinski over at Players For Life recently dropped a post on July 22nd, 2025, detailing Riot Games’ upcoming closed beta for their highly anticipated 2v2 fighter, 2xko. Starting September 9th, players who have participated in earlier Alpha Lab tests will get exclusive access to the PC version of the game. New recruits can also sign up now! For all the details and to register, head over to his post 2xko to Have Closed Beta in September—don’t miss out on this thrilling update! And for those who are fans of League of Legends and are always on the lookout for the next big thing from Riot Games, you won’t want to miss “League of Legends: Next Official Game Already a Massive Hit Before Release” by Bruno Pferd (August 6, 2025). The article delves into the excitement surrounding Riftbound, an eagerly anticipated collectible card game that has already made waves before its official release. With pre-orders selling out in record time and some technical hurdles to overcome, Riot Games is working diligently to ensure a smoother launch. Dive deeper into the hype and insights at League of Legends: Next Official Game Already a Massive Hit Before Release.

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Sophie Laurent

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