It looks like 2XKO is stepping up to support grassroots tournaments by introducing an offline mode where all champions are unlocked. This new feature is a major win for tournament organizers who aren’t too keen on grinding out champions on multiple accounts just to host an event.
During a Q&A session in a recent community tour in France, Tom Cannon, the executive producer of 2XKO, was initially cautious about revealing too much information. However, he eventually decided to spill the beans, expressing a laid-back “yeah, why not” and diving into details about the new offline capabilities.
Picture this: you’re trying to get all your systems ready for a tournament, but you’re faced with the hassle of setting everything up online, not to mention unlocking champions across multiple accounts. Cannon addressed these very concerns, stating that they aim to make tournament setups significantly easier. “You’ll be able to play this game offline,” he quipped, “I hope that’s not a spoiler”—complete with a friendly chuckle. While you might miss out on some content like skins, having full access to all champions in an offline setting is the big selling point here.
The intent is clear; they want to support grassroots events, keeping an ear to the ground to see how this pans out and what further enhancements might be needed.
For those die-hard fans organizing fighting game tournaments grounded in competitive spirit, this is excellent news. An always-online requirement could present formidable challenges, such as ensuring reliable internet at venues and incurring significant costs over extended periods. Moreover, not being required to unlock each character on separate 2XKO accounts is a true lifesaver for organizers, who would otherwise have to engage in tedious grinding to ensure a fair competitive platform.
One lingering question is how this offline mode will play with Riot’s Vanguard Anti-Cheat, which ordinarily requires consistent online operation. Vanguard is a robust system, kicking in from the moment you start your computer and doesn’t easily disengage while playing Riot titles like League of Legends and Valorant. If this offline mode needs to run through the Riot Games launcher, it could present a bit of a clash.
We’ve reached out to Riot Games for clarification on this issue, but haven’t heard back yet. We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
Despite this uncertainty, the offline mode is a fantastic feature for die-hard fans looking to showcase their skills against competitors face-to-face. Given the game’s free-to-play nature, it’s unlikely this feature will be broadly available to all players, suggesting it might be reserved primarily for bona fide tournament organizers.
We’re eager to see how this offline mode unfolds and what else 2XKO has in store. What’s your take on the introduction of an offline mode? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
