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Is 2XKO Too Hard? Pros Weigh In

Is Riot's new fighting game too complex for anyone new to the FGC?

Olivia Richman

The 2XKO Alpha playtest has been out for a few days and a lot of fighting game fans have already changed their minds about their excitement for the 2v2 fighter.

Leading up to the 2XKO Alpha, the FGC was beyond excited. Riot taking on a fighting game is huge, meaning a massive publisher would support the esports scene and shine a light on the niche-yet-growing fighting game community. The concept of the game focusing on teamwork and two-player combos has also been a refreshing take on the genre.

Now that players have tried out the game, however, the discourse has changed.

Related Article: How to Unlock Champions in 2XKO

Is 2XKO Actually Too Hard?

The biggest complaint about 2XKO during the Alpha playtest is that the game is simply too complex. A lot of fighting game players are having issues understanding the game's tricky controls and focus on mixes that are tough to pull off. To put it simply — 2XKO is not seen as an accessible game for beginners.

Pro Tekken player Phi "PhiDX" Lam said: "It took years of experience in League, Melee, and Tekken to figure out how to have a good relationship with losing, and I was STILL trying my hardest to not tilt in 2XKO."

He went on to call the game "overwhelming," especially for players not used to tag-team fighting games. After six hours of grinding, PhiDX admitted to still hitting the wrong buttons.

Fighting game fans replied with similar sentiments. Some said that the game just wasn't fun due to the combos going on forever and a lack of neutral gameplay. Others agreed that you can only play fighters in your skill level, pointing out that newer players that try to play pros would just be "mixed to s—."

Other fighting game fans and pros agreed with the discussion. All across X there are tweets about the game being tough for non-fighting game players to enjoy since it can often feel "helpless" when you can't block against mixes.

Not everyone in the fighting game community was complaining, however.

During a time when fighting games are trying to appeal to the masses, like Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 including a lot of practice modes and easier control schemes, some in the FGC are happy about 2XKO's complexities. This includes William "Leffen" Hjelte, who is in the middle of a 12-day 2XKO streaming marathon.

Some of the devastating combos may not be part of the game when it officially comes out. Game Director Shaun Rivera took to X to explain that some overpowered combos are not intentional and are actually the result of a bug.

This most likely won't be enough to change the fighting game community's mind. 2XKO is clearly a game for hardcore fighting game enthusiasts. While new players can learn, it may have a tougher learning curve than other fighting games out right now.

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Olivia Richman
OLIVIA RICHMAN

Olivia is a long-time esports journalist and editor who covers just about every game but has a deep love for the FGC. Her goal is to find community-driven stories that bring a new perspective to the esports scene. In the past, she has worked for Team Liquid, Rogue, Inven Global, Dot Esports, Upcomer, and more. Outside of esports, Olivia enjoys Kirby, Pokemon TCG, Fallout, and writing science fiction. She can be found trying out new foods, traveling, or hanging out with her two orange cats.  Fun fact: Olivia can do some video game and cartoon impressions! 

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