Welcome back to the Weekend Warmup. Ever found yourself people-watching at an event? It’s fascinating. Each person brings their own stories, experiences, and mannerisms into a beautiful organised chaos. (Really hope other people do this or this article is going to sound unhinged.)

This past weekend, I spent some time hanging out in the Spirit Blossom-themed lobby (new lo-fi jam on the playlist btw) and watched everyone’s avatars dash around, find games, and hype/beat each other up. It got me thinking: what exactly are the unwritten social rules of the 2XKO lobby? I polled the 2XKO dev team to get their (reasonably well-adjusted) takes.

Screenshot or It Didn’t Happen

I’ve heard that players who “win repeatedly” (editor’s note: look up how this is possible) in 2XKO get supercharged on-fire visuals and a place on the in-lobby leaderboard. If you hit a milestone, you must pose by the leaderboard or on the central podium and take a screenie. We reserve the right to pretend it never happened if you don’t. 

Perfect the Platform Challenge

The ultimate FGC allegiance tests: Numpad notation or traditional notation? Block button or hold back? Stick, pad or leverless? For the 2XKO lobby platform challenge, do you jump left-to-right or right-to-left? Here’s my take: if you’re jumping those platforms right-to-left, you’re playing on easy mode. If you go left-to-right and actually manage to stick the dash jump all the way to the end, you might as well take home the Evo finals trophy.

This is the run.

Always Bet on Goku

If you spot an avatar that you believe resembles a character from your favourite anime, movie, game or otherwise, you are required to intercept them with stickers, emotes, or hyping their next set. Bonus points if you shout them out in the chat and give them kudos on their expert customisation skills. There’s one exception: if your avatar is also dressed as a character from the same franchise, you must invite them to duo.

Put Yourself in Lobby Jail

You just dropped a one-sided set. You got your Break baited twice in a row. You still don’t know what to do against Darius. You’re fuming. It’s time to cool off, so that’s where Lobby Jail comes in. You know that little spot to the right of the entrance ramp where you can get stuck? Sit there and think about what to do better next time. When your salt has subsided, you can get back into the action—but take a timeout first.

It was close though.

Duo Lobby Synergy is Critical

Training to be a drift-compatible duo takes time, and that synergy must extend to the lobby. If your partner starts tearing through the area in a 2XKO triathlon (combining hurdles, sprints, and long jumps) you better be right on their heels. If your duo says “jump”, you say “how far?”. If they end up in Lobby Jail, you’re standing right outside the bars as their legal counsel. If you aren’t perfectly synced up in the lobby, you’ve already lost the match before it even starts.

Default Avatars Scare Me

Unfathomable. Unknowable. Unreservedly compelling. If you’re rocking the default avatar, you’re either a sweet lost lamb, gently tapping buttons to execute your first Pulse Combo, or you’re a machine on a 100-game streak with no time for anything but the grind. Treat these players with extreme caution either way.

Haunting.

Holograms Have Feelings Too

When you finish a set against a hologram player, treat them with dignity. You ever bumped into a mannequin and said sorry? It’s unnecessary, but it’s human. When you’re done with your shopping cart, good people put them back. Similarly, good players offer holograms a “gg”. It’s just the right thing to do.

Please Stop Trying to Get Inside the Shop

It doesn’t work. There is no secret entrance. 

Local Spotlight

DIY (New York, NY)

From the organisers: “DIY is back again for another year of grassroots action, and this year we've added 2XKO to the lineup! After the amazing success of 2XKO at DIY Bonus Tracks, we are happy to have it in the main lineup for 2026! 2XKO is part of the saturday lineup which means you only need a one day pass to compete! Signup can be found at start.gg/diy.”

DIY takes place June 13 - 14, 2026. Top-placing 2XKO players will also take home Chipotle Free Entrée cards!

Upcoming Dates

• Apr 21: LVL UP EXPO begins (Las Vegas)

Closing Thoughts

I got to play a bit of Street Fighter 6 Type Arcade last weekend ($1 for a full Arcade Mode run plus a set against my partner, not bad). My flailing Manon against her Modern Cammy, she’s sitting there grinning as she mashes Hooligan setups into the set win—I am constantly reminded how fulfilling this genre is played in-person. I feel like I write this every week but please get yourself out to a local, arcade, or event if you can.

Okay, today’s post was a little silly. Thanks for reading. The Life of a Patch post a few weeks ago popped off (appreciate everyone who signal boosted) and I want to know who YOU want to hear more from on our team. What big questions do you have of the 2XKO team overall? I really love getting to keep in touch with y’all through the Weekend Warmup and feel like many parts of the team wanna grab the keyboard as well. Let me know!

—@draggles