Riot Games has added Akali to 2XKO, introducing the League of Legends champion alongside a new Local Duos feature and continued support for community-run competition.

According to Riot’s patch notes, Akali joined the free-to-play 2v2 fighting game on April 7th as part of patch 1.1.5. The publisher described the character as a fast, close-range fighter built around mobility, blades and her signature ‘Twilight Shroud’ smoke bomb, which empowers other moves in her kit.

Akali can be unlocked immediately with in-game currency or a Champion Token. Riot also said players can earn her for free through a limited-time Champion Recruitment Event. Even without unlocking her, the company noted that all champions remain available in Training and Offline modes.

The release added one of League of Legends’ most recognisable assassins to 2XKO’s roster at a time when Riot has continued to expand the game’s duo-focused identity. In a January update outlining its priorities for 2026, Riot said it planned to invest further in systems that make playing with a partner easier and more rewarding.

That push now includes Local Duos, a mode that allows two players to use the same device while teaming up online. According to the patch notes, players using the feature can still progress champion-specific missions, while account experience and Credits earned per match are doubled.

Riot continued to build out 2XKO’s competitive ecosystem

Akali’s arrival also came as Riot continued to develop the game’s grassroots fighting game scene.

Earlier this year, the publisher said it would support 20 Riot-sanctioned tournaments across its 2026 Competitive Series, made up of five Major events and 15 Challenger tournaments. Riot added that its approach would focus on backing existing fighting game organisers instead of building a closed league structure.

The company has also tested direct in-game rewards for players attending online and offline community tournaments. According to a February announcement, participants in eligible events could receive Credits, while repeat attendance and first-place finishes unlocked additional cosmetic rewards and titles.

2XKO launched its console version at the start of Season 1 in January and is available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Riot has positioned the title as a long-term expansion of the League of Legends universe into the fighting game genre, with duo play and community competition remaining central parts of that strategy.