The fighting game community is a strange one. The players are passionate yet hate everything, dedicated yet find everything horrible. 2XKO has been a target as of late due to Riot’s attempt to make the game mainstream. However, a recent gesture has put 2XKO back in the good graces of fighting game fans. For now.
Earlier this summer, 2XKO made all of us cringe like we just smelled Asmongold’s basement full of rotting Chiptole when Riot showeddesperation to be mainstream with embarrassing collaborations. While the FGC wanted Riot’s support to grow, it didn’t necessarily mean it wanted to fully embrace pop culture like Fortnite. Riot had taken it too far.
Now, Riot has dialed it back with a collaboration that makes sense.
On X earlier today, 2XKO announced a partnership with Infil, a well-known fighting game term glossary in the FGC. The partnership added 2XKO-specific terms to be added alongside games like Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., Virtua Fighter, and Melty Blood.
The FGC gave this a nod of approval, noting that 2XKO devs were trying to integrate the game into the existing fighting game community and even pay homage to various grassroots organizations within it.
Said one fan: “This is actually really cool to see. One of my favorite things about the 2XKO team is how involved they are with the FGC.”
I think 2XKO has finally figured out the formula: get more involved with the FGC but don’t try to bring the FGC to the rest of esports industry. Those corny sponsorship videos are better left for VALORANT or Fortnite. Fighting games are just never going to be that mainstream, so why not appeal to the existing fans rather than hope gamers that have been ignoring the fighting game scene for decades will suddenly be interested because you ate a burrito?
The full list of terms can be seenhere. And as you can see, there are plenty of them, showcasing 2XKO’s depth and competitiveness. The more that 2XKO leans into this competitive spirit rather than appealing to the masses, the more faith I have that this game could potentially save the FGC.
