Riot Games has announced that Blitzcrank, one of League of Legends’ most recognizable champions, will join the roster of the studio’s upcoming fighting game 2XKO. The reveal was made on September 4 (Korea time), with a Closed Beta Test scheduled to begin next week.

2XKO is Riot’s first 2v2 tag-based fighting title, reimagining characters from the League of Legends universe in a fast-paced, competitive setting. The roster already includes familiar names such as Ahri, Yasuo, Jinx, and Darius. Blitzcrank becomes the ninth confirmed champion and the first designed specifically as a grappler archetype.

Rocket Grab Comes to Fighting Game?

True to the champion’s origins, Blitzcrank carries over their signature Q-E combo into 2XKO. The “Rocket Grab” ability pulls opponents across the screen, setting up for the “Power Fist” follow-up. Unlike other champions revealed so far, Blitzcrank also features a command grab ultimate, reinforcing their role as a close-range threat despite slower movement speed.

The tag-based mechanics of 2XKO emphasize team coordination, and Blitzcrank’s assist abilities further highlight this design. When selected as a partner, the champion can disrupt opponents by pulling them toward allies, giving teammates new combo opportunities. Riot notes that this reflects Blitzcrank’s long-standing role in League of Legends as a support character with high playmaking potential.

Players will have the chance to try Blitzcrank and the rest of the roster when the Closed Beta Test begins on September 10, Korea time. Applications are currently available on the official 2XKO website. The beta will run on Windows PC and feature nine champions: Ahri, Darius, Jinx, Yasuo, Ekko, Illaoi, Braum, Vi, and Blitzcrank.

Riot Games continues to expand beyond League of Legends with projects spanning multiple genres. Alongside 2XKO, the company has released titles including Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, Valorant, and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Its first animated series, Arcane, earned both Annie Awards and an Emmy, further cementing Riot’s focus on building cross-media experiences around the Runeterra universe.