2XKO has announced an exciting new feature: an offline mode where all champions are unlocked. This is a game-changer for grassroots tournament organizers who are excited to host events for the game but are not keen on the grind of unlocking all champions across multiple accounts.
The announcement came earlier this month during a 2XKO community tour in France. During a group Q&A, 2XKO’s executive producer, Tom Cannon, hesitated at first but then decided to go ahead and share the news. He enthusiastically declared, “yeah, why not,” and unveiled the plans for the offline mode.
Cannon explained, “Setting up multiple game configurations for a tournament can be a hassle. We want to make it easier. We want you to host a tournament without needing an internet connection or jumping through hoops to unlock champions.”
“So here’s the plan. You’ll be able to play offline. I hope I’m not ruining any surprises here! As a tournament organizer, you’ll have all the champions unlocked from the get-go. You might not have access to everything, like skins and extras, but at least you can host tournaments offline. That’s our main selling point.”
“We’re eager to support grassroots events and are keen to get feedback on how this goes and what additional features might help.”
For those running fighting game events focused on competition, this is a potentially huge advantage. An always-online fighting game could face major obstacles in these settings. Organizers would need to ensure that the venue provides reliable internet access, which often comes with hefty fees if used over multiple days. Plus, bypassing the need to unlock new characters for numerous 2XKO accounts is a massive relief, as it saves the hassle of manually making the game competitively fit.
The big question now is how this new offline mode will coexist with Vanguard Anti-Cheat, Riot Games’ always-online anti-cheat system. Vanguard, which starts when you boot up your computer at a kernel-level access, can’t be disabled while running Riot Games titles like League of Legends and Valorant. In theory, an offline tournament mode could clash with Vanguard’s purpose, especially if it’s launched through the Riot Games launcher, similar to the current 2XKO Alpha Lab tests.
We reached out to Riot Games for clarification on this issue, but haven’t received a response yet.
Despite this uncertainty, the offline mode could be a hit for the hardcore community, eager to showcase their skills at live events. Personally, I wouldn’t expect this feature to be offered to the general player base. 2XKO is a free-to-play game, so it needs to find a way to generate revenue. This offline mode is likely to remain a special option for recognized tournament organizers.
We’ll have to wait for more updates on this offline mode. What’s your take on the new feature? Share your thoughts below!
