2XKO in 2026

Draggles here with this week’s 2XKO Weekend Warmup. This time, I’m passing the keyboard over to our game director Shaun to talk a little bit about the shape of 2026.

Let’s get straight into it.

2XKO in 2026

Hey all, Shaun here. 2XKO is out on console, Season 1 has begun, and we’re seeing some amazing creativity come to life as y’all are exploring the patch. To start, I’m grateful to the FGC and the 2XKO team for their hard work in making the game what it is today. A question we get a lot, though, is “what now?”, so I wanted to give you a brief overview of what our team will focus on in 2026. This isn’t everything we’re doing, but here’s what we’re looking at first:

Playing as a duo

You’ve told us that playing as a duo offers an experience that’s really unique and fun when you and a friend can team up and take on the world, and we agree—we’re going to be investing in duo play much more: making duos easier to find and form, and making it more rewarding to play together.

Core gameplay

We’re constantly amazed by how much sauce you have found in the short time you’ve had access to Season 1. You all have pushed our champions and systems well beyond their limits, and it has been exciting and a little terrifying to see. While 2XKO’s core gameplay systems are flexible and allow for a ton of creativity, those same systems are unfortunately making the game feel way too sharp and overwhelming for some players. As a result, you can expect us to take some big swings towards allowing players to get back to the action more quickly and also making interactions more intuitive in general. This will likely feel different than the game you are playing today, more in line with our intended vision for the game, and more satisfying for players and spectators alike.

Community and competitive

We are going to continue investing in community spaces (both physical and digital), as well as 2XKO’s competitive scene. It’s deeply important to us that we continue to support the communities that make the FGC what it is today. That will look different based on the needs of players across the world, but expect us to look at tournament play, creators, and support for local organizers.

I appreciate everyone’s passionate labbing, questions, and feedback as we’ve gotten console live, and looking forward to evolving the game with y’all as we move forward.

Game Updates

Known bugs

We’re tracking a few key issues that you’re reporting to us (thank you so much for the detailed reports and flags—we wouldn’t be able to track these down as quickly without your submissions):

• Screen tearing on console

• Login issues

• Game crashes (or sudden disconnects)

• Limit Strike interactions

• Unexpected gameplay interactions 

While we don’t have anything specific to share yet, we still want to hear from you if you’re experiencing any of these, or any other issue. Please submit a ticket to Player Support so we can keep gathering more info.

Community

Frosty Faustings

We’re kicking off this year’s 2XKO Competitive Series with our first official Major: Frosty Faustings XVIII. Soon some of the world’s biggest fighting game players—including almost every winner from 2XKO’s First Impact program—will gather in chilly Lombard, IL to hang out, play some games, and shoot their shot at becoming 2XKO’s first Major champion. 

In addition to the Major, we’re running showmatches, exhibition matches, and Caitlyn-themed popcorn (seriously).

Watch the whole thing right now on twitch.tv/tampaneversleeps or twitch.tv/2xko. 

We’re also offering a clean broadcast feed for co-streaming. The 2XKO Major is available with no commentator audio on twitch.tv/tampaneversleeps2. This is an open invite—if you want to co-stream, consider this your official permission to do so.

Learn more about 2XKO @ Frosty Faustings XVIII here. 

Promotions

Twitch Drops

Watch 15 minutes of 2XKO on Twitch to earn the “Live Now” player title in-game. Watch 30 minutes to earn the Private Lobby player card.

TikTok Game Rewards

Watch 3 minutes of an eligible TikTok LIVE stream to claim the “Online” player title and the Public Lobby player card. TikTok streamers can opt into this program via TikTok Studio.

Discord Quest

Play 2XKO for 15 minutes with Discord open (on PC or console) to earn the Caitlyn Cab Monster Avatar Decoration.

Upcoming Dates

• Jan 29: Frame Perfect skin set live

• Jan 29-Feb 1: Frosty Faustings XVIII

• Jan 31: Chipotle Challenger bundle promo ends

• Feb 4: Twitch Drops promo ends

• Feb 4: TikTok Rewards promo ends

Closing Thoughts

If you’re at Frosty’s, please stay safe and warm. Looking forward to tuning in for some fun matches. I’ll be tuned in from home for this one. I’m particularly excited to see two brains work together in high-stakes competition, and for teams to chase the Duo Bounty. But mostly, I’m honoured that so many folks are showing up for 2XKO’s first Major. It’s been a long time coming, so it’s really sick to share the stage with so many legendary games and players. Catch me spamming !bracket in the chat.

—@draggles