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The 2XKO Alpha Lab Playtest has only been live for four days, yet it has already generated a significant volume of player feedback. This early engagement highlights the excitement surrounding the title and provides valuable insights that will help shape its development path forward.
2XKO Adjusting Gameplay Mechanics Based on Player Input
Shaun Rivera, director of 2XKO, recently took to social media to share how the team is responding to community feedback gathered during the ongoing Alpha Lab Playtest. Given the game's strong ties to the League of Legends universe, the playtest attracted a large and diverse audience, many of whom shared gameplay clips highlighting some of the more extreme combo sequences.
"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 explained.
Indeed, players did just that—discovering combos so effective they could juggle opponents indefinitely. Paired with the tag system, these sequences often left opponents with minimal opportunity to counter, resulting in long stretches of low agency gameplay.
While Rivera praised the creativity behind these combo strings, he also acknowledged that extended periods of player inactivity are not ideal for competitive balance. As a result, the development team is working to refine combo systems and reduce the frequency of Touch of Death (TOD) scenarios—those instant-kill combos capable of ending a match from full health.
Developers aim to preserve the fast-paced, high-energy feel of 2XKO, but also want matches to remain fair and engaging. While some TOD combos were expected, the team is now analyzing gameplay data and player commentary to better understand which combos may be overperforming or negatively impacting the experience.
Tutorial Mode Enhancements on the Horizon
Another area drawing attention is the game’s current Tutorial Mode. While 2XKO is relatively easy to pick up, mastering its mechanics presents a steeper learning curve. Without skill-based matchmaking in the current playtest, newcomers often find themselves outmatched by experienced players.
Professional fighting game competitor Christopher “NYChrisG” highlighted this challenge, describing the game as “not meant for everyone.” He pointed to the six-button control scheme and complex mechanics as being potentially overwhelming, especially compared to titles like Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
Rivera responded directly to this concern, noting that the current tutorial is a rough draft and improvements are already in progress. He stated:
“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 version is a rough pass, so please expect it to improve significantly in the future.”
Additionally, a member of the tutorial design team recently reached out to the community via Reddit to gather suggestions on how to enhance the onboarding experience. Players have proposed incorporating structured tutorials inspired by games like Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter 6, offering deeper instruction beyond basic combo execution and introducing advanced lessons covering frame data and matchup fundamentals.
Community Response Remains Positive Despite Early Hurdles
Despite the current limitations, the overall reception to 2XKO remains overwhelmingly positive. High-profile fighting game pros like William “Leffen” Hjelte have spent extensive time streaming the game—logging over 19 hours of continuous play during the initial phase of the playtest.
On Twitch, the game quickly gained traction, reaching a peak viewership of 60,425 during the first day alone. Though still in closed alpha with no official release date announced, 2XKO is already building a passionate and engaged player base.
If you're eager to participate in the 2XKO Alpha Lab Playtest, check out our guide below to learn how to register and gain access!
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