Image credit: Riot Games
2XKO developer Riot Games has announced that it will sponsor 22 community-led tournaments through a new programme called First Impact.
Covering events until the end of 2025, First Impact will feature online and offline events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, during the game’s Early Access period, which launches on October 7th.
Riot Games further clarified what support from the First Impact sponsorship entails, sharing that it will provide an additional $2,500 (~£1,850) on top of the tournament’s prize pot.
Winners of a First Impact tournament will also receive an exclusive Local Legend player title, which will be sent directly to their 2XKO account.
These are all of the tournaments that will be sponsored by Riot Games:
Dates Name LocationOctober 10th-12thEvo France: 2 NICE KO by The MixUpNice, FranceOctober 18thDelfino Maza KOOnline (LATAM NORTH)October 18thIBgames First Impact #1Online (EMEA)October 19thDIY: Bonus TrackNew York, United StatesOctober 25thSet & Reset: First Impact #1Online (EMEA)October 25th-26thFirst AttackSan Juan, Puerto Rico, United StatesOctober 25th-26thHades Club KO ArenaOnline (LATAM SOUTH)October 31st to November 2ndDreamHack AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia, United StatesNovember 1st-2ndSOOP Super TournamentOnline (APAC)November 8th-9thR.I.S.C. 2025Los Angeles, California, United StatesNovember 9thIBgames First Impact #2Online (EMEA)November 14th-16thBattle ColiseumSão Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilNovember 14th-16thMidwest MixfestMinneapolis, Minnesota, United StatesNovember 15th-16thINVATE APAC CupOnline (APAC)November 15thSet & Reset: First Impact #2Online (EMEA)November 22ndFGC TeamupsChicago, Illinois, United StatesNovember 28th-30thThaiger UppercutBangkok, ThailandNovember 29th-30thMindsetParis, FranceDecember 6th-7thTNS 2XKOOnline (NA)December 6th2XKO Korea OpenSeoul, South KoreaDecember 7th2XKO Japan KnockoutTokyo, JapanDecember 13thFlyQuest – 2XKO Christmas ClashOnline (NA)
Riot Games has also shared that it will gather feedback from tournament organisers for its 2026 esports plans.
2XKO Reveals Early Access
As of writing, 2XKO is two weeks into its closed beta, which is scheduled to end on October 7th 2025.
However, Riot Games has also unveiled that the game will enter Early Access shortly afterwards on the same day, releasing its first ‘full-feature version’ of the FGC title.
The Early Access will come with a ‘full-season’ of content, and other in-game features such as combo trials. The developers have shared that it will use this chance to collect data on the game’s Battle Pass and Ranked systems.
Any content earned after October 7th in the Early Access will be permanently unlocked and will carry over to the full release.
Season 0 will also launch with the Early Access. 2026 is expected to be divided into five different seasons, bringing a new champion, battle passes, a rank reset, and more. With Season 0, 2XKO will also add its 10th champion to the roster. A gameplay trailer and developer update will be released closer to launch.
