Riot Games is positioning 2XKO for a major esports impact with its full 2026 release, following successful player testing in late 2025. The fighting game represents Riot's entry into the competitive fighting game market, leveraging the company's proven track record of building sustainable esports ecosystems around titles like League of Legends and VALORANT.
The game has already begun cultivating a competitive scene, with Riot Games providing early access to professional fighting game players and content creators to build grassroots momentum. This strategy mirrors Riot's successful VALORANT launch, which quickly established itself as a premier tactical shooter esport through careful community cultivation and substantial prize pool investments.
Industry analysts predict 2XKO could challenge established fighting game esports titles by combining Riot's expertise in competitive game design with accessible mechanics that lower the barrier to entry. While traditional fighting games like Street Fighter and Tekken dominate the scene, 2XKO's connection to League of Legends lore and characters provides built-in audience recognition and crossover appeal.