The 2XKO Alpha Lab Playtest has been live for just four days, yet it has already generated a significant wave of player feedback. With its deep ties to the League of Legends universe, the fighting game attracted a broad audience eager to dive in—and they haven’t held back in sharing their thoughts. The development team is now actively refining the experience based on this early input.
2XKO Adjusts Combos and Overhauls Tutorial Based on Community Input
Shaun Rivera, director of 2XKO, took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that the team is making meaningful adjustments to the game in response to feedback from the ongoing Alpha Lab Playtest. The goal? To preserve the game’s high-octane action while ensuring fairness and accessibility.
The influx of players brought with it countless gameplay clips showcasing powerful, often relentless combos. Some of these sequences allowed players to juggle opponents for extended durations, especially when combined with the tag mechanics. While Rivera acknowledged the creativity behind these combos, calling them “really creative,” he also noted that prolonged periods of low player agency are not ideal for competitive balance.
“One of the reasons we were excited for a ton of folks to get early hands on in Alpha Lab along with ensuring a training mode was available was to see what ways players cracked things wide open,” Rivera shared.
In response, the team is working to reduce the frequency of Touch of Death (TOD) combos—moves that can instantly KO an opponent from full health. While such mechanics are part of the game’s explosive identity, the developers stress that they should remain rare and require high skill and resource investment to execute. The aim is to maintain excitement without tipping into frustration.
Addressing the Tutorial Gap
Another major point of feedback centers on 2XKO’s Tutorial Mode. While the game is approachable for newcomers, mastering its systems proves challenging—especially without skill-based matchmaking during the playtest. This often leaves less experienced players facing off against highly skilled veterans, creating a steep learning curve.
Notably, professional fighting game player Christopher "NYChrisG" remarked that 2XKO might not be “meant for everyone,” citing its complex six-button layout and mechanics that rival or surpass the intricacy of titles like Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
Rivera responded to these concerns, admitting that the current tutorial is only a “rough pass.” He assured players that significant improvements are on the way, stating, “I have heard feedback that folks want to see a lot more from our Tutorial in order to more easily onboard players to the game.”
This commitment is already in motion. A member of the tutorial team recently reached out on Reddit, inviting players to share suggestions for improvement. Community proposals include adopting structured learning paths similar to Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter 6, expanding training beyond basic combos, and introducing an advanced tutorial covering concepts like frame data and matchup strategy.
Strong Community Engagement Despite Early Critiques
Despite these challenges, enthusiasm for 2XKO remains high. Top-tier players like William "Leffen" Hjelte have invested heavily in the experience, with Leffen himself streaming 19 consecutive hours of gameplay. On Twitch, the title quickly gained traction, reaching a peak of 60,425 viewers on the first day of the playtest.
Though 2XKO remains in closed alpha with no official release date announced, the level of engagement and constructive feedback signals strong potential. With a passionate player base, visible developer responsiveness, and a foundation built on fast, dynamic combat, 2XKO is shaping up to be a standout entry in the fighting game genre.
Want to get a taste of 2XKO’s Alpha Lab Playtest? Check out the article below to learn how to register!
