2XKO Introduces Offline Mode with Full Champion Access for Tournament Organizers

Exciting news has surfaced about 2XKO! It’s been announced that the game will feature an offline mode where all champions are instantly accessible. This move aims to cater to local tournament organizers who are keen on hosting events centered around the game without the hassle of unlocking champions across multiple accounts.

The reveal came earlier this month during a 2XKO community tour in France, where in a group Q&A session, 2XKO’s executive producer, Tom Cannon, discussed the plans. He hesitated at first, considering how much he could share, but then let the news slip, saying, “Why not?” and unveiled the details about the new mode.

“I get that setting up numerous stations for a tournament can be quite the task,” Cannon said. “We want to make it easier. Organizing a tournament without needing an internet connection or dealing with the headache of unlocking all the champions shouldn’t be something that holds you back.”

He continued, “So, here’s the deal. You’ll be able to play the game offline. Hope that’s not a spoiler,” he added with a laugh. “For tournament organizers, all champions will be unlocked straight away, no grinding necessary. However, you’ll have limited content, like skins for instance. But at least all the action can happen offline within the tournament. That’s the key benefit!”

Cannon emphasized, “We’re keen on supporting grassroots events, so we’re eager to hear what works and what else could be beneficial.”

It’s a promising development for those who manage fighting game tournaments, focusing purely on competition. An always-online game setup could present numerous challenges in such scenarios. Organizers would not only need reliable internet access at the venue, which could come with a hefty price tag over several days, but the grind to unlock characters across multiple accounts would also be a major headache. The offline mode aims to alleviate these concerns significantly.

What’s still up in the air is how this offline mode will mesh with Vanguard Anti-Cheat from Riot Games, which typically requires an internet connection as it’s built to operate with ongoing access to your system. As it stands, you can’t disable Vanguard when running any Riot Games titles like League of Legends or Valorant. So, there’s a question mark over how this offline tournament mode will function if it launches via the Riot Games platform, similar to the current 2XKO Alpha Lab tests.

We reached out to Riot Games for clarity on this aspect, but haven’t heard back at the time of writing.

Still, this development is a boon for the hardcore community that’s sure to spring up around the game—those passionate players eager to meet rivals face-to-face at events. That said, if I may add my two cents, it’s unlikely this feature will roll out to the average gamer. Given that 2XKO is a free-to-play game, its monetization strategy will understandably rely on keeping some features exclusive, probably limiting this offline mode to officially recognized tournament organizers.

We’re going to have to wait and see what other details emerge about this offline mode.

What are your thoughts on this new feature? Share them with us below!