New Champion ‘Rucks’ and ‘Samurai’ to Make 2XKO Debut in 2026
Riot Games has confirmed that the characters Lux and Samira will be added to the playable roster of its upcoming fighting game, 2XKO, with a full release scheduled for 2026. The announcement marks an expansion of the game’s character lineup as the developer continues to refine the title, formerly known as Project L, ahead of its multi-platform launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Character Additions and Roster Development
The inclusion of Lux and Samira brings two distinct combat styles to the 2XKO roster. Lux, a mage-based champion originating from the League of Legends universe, utilizes long-range light-based projectiles and zoning tactics. Samira, conversely, is characterized by a high-mobility, aggressive playstyle that blends melee sword strikes with ranged gunfire.
These additions follow a series of playtests and community feedback sessions conducted by Riot Games throughout 2024. The development team has utilized these sessions to adjust move sets and balance mechanics, aiming to integrate the champions’ iconic abilities from League of Legends into a tag-team fighting game format.
Release Timeline and Platform Availability
Riot Games maintains a 2026 release window for 2XKO. While initial public testing phases have been limited to specific regions and invite-only cohorts, the studio has stated that the game will be free-to-play upon its official release.
The game is being built on a tag-team foundation, requiring players to manage two characters simultaneously. This design choice is intended to distinguish 2XKO from traditional 1v1 fighting games, focusing on synergy between champions. The development team has indicated that the time between now and the 2026 launch will be dedicated to character polish, netcode optimization, and the expansion of the game’s core features.
Development Context
2XKO represents Riot Games’ first foray into the fighting game genre. The project has been under development for several years, with the studio’s internal team focusing on adapting the lore and mechanics of the League of Legends intellectual property.
The announcement of Lux and Samira comes as the company continues to host regional demonstrations and technical stress tests. These events remain the primary source of public information regarding the game’s evolving mechanics and character balance. Riot Games has not yet disclosed a specific month or day for the 2026 launch, nor have they released a full list of the final launch roster. The studio currently directs players to follow official channels for updates on future playtest sign-ups and character reveals.