2XKO Patch 1.1.1 Arrives: Season 1 Kicks Off With Major Changes

2XKO is stepping into a new era with Patch 1.1.1, dropping on January 20, 2026, and bringing Season 1 to life across all platforms. This isn't just another update; it's the game's biggest moment since Early Access launched back in October. Console players finally get their hands on the action, and PC veterans are about to see the roster expand with a sharpshooter who changes how zoning works in this tag fighter.

The patch launches alongside the console debut on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, making this the official full-platform release for Riot's 2v2 fighting game. For those keeping track, account progress carries over across all platforms, so jumping between PC and console won't reset your hard work.

Projectiles Get a Major Overhaul in 2XKO Patch 1.1.1

Riot is addressing one of the community's biggest frustrations with projectile spam. The development team found that projectiles created too much chaos and unclear outcomes, so they're making fundamental changes to how they work.

The core changes include:

• Most projectiles now disappear when hitting the point champion or the assist that launched them
• This affects Wind Wall, Timewinder, Rockets, Mushrooms, and more
• Aerial projectiles now put opponents in a counterhit state during recovery
• Champions can no longer charge projectile assists while tagged out

These adjustments fundamentally change neutral game patterns. Teams that relied on constant projectile pressure while building meter on the bench will need new strategies.

Assists Take Longer to Come Back

The assist system is getting rebalanced to make momentum shifts easier and punish careless assist usage. Hitting an assist now triggers a 4-second cooldown before that assist can be called again. Assist champions also exit immediately if they get hit while knocked down, preventing situations where assist characters linger on screen creating infinite pressure loops.

Riot wants assists to be strategic tools rather than spam options. You'll need to think twice before throwing out that assist in neutral now.

Frame Data Gets Faster for Big Bodies

The slower grapplers and tanks are getting frame data buffs to help them compete. Darius, Illaoi, Blitzcrank, and Braum all see their jabs improved from 8 frames to 7 frames. That single frame makes a massive difference in fighting games when it comes to interrupting pressure and taking your turn back.

These characters struggled with defense against fast rushdown teams, and now they have legitimate options to contest up close.

Balance Changes in 2XKO Patch 1.1.1

Patch 1.1.1 brings extensive balance adjustments across the entire roster. The top-performing champions from Season 0, including Ekko, Yasuo, Ahri, and Teemo, are receiving targeted nerfs to bring them in line with the rest of the cast. Meanwhile, underperforming characters like Braum, Blitzcrank, Darius, Jinx and Vi are getting meaningful buffs to make them more competitive.

The Juggernaut Fuse modifier is also receiving improvements to address its underperformance compared to other Fuse options. For the complete breakdown of every champion change, hitbox adjustment, and frame data tweak, check out the full 2XKO patch 1.1.1 notes on the official website.

Caitlyn Brings a Whole New Problem

Caitlyn becomes the twelfth playable character in 2XKO, joining the complete Season 1 lineup. The Sheriff of Piltover brings something different to the table. She's built entirely around controlling space and making opponents regret every misstep they make.

Her kit translates her League of Legends abilities into the fighting game format with some clever adaptations:

• Piltover Peacemaker gets woven into her combo routes for devastating rifle blasts
• Bola, the reimagined version of her 90 Caliber Net, gives her mobility and spacing control
• Enticing Trap drops cupcake-themed traps across the stage that lock opponents in place for follow-up punishment
• Ace in the Hole (super ability) lets her line up shots from multiple angles, including hitting airborne targets
• She can roll under projectiles, dash through the air to adjust positioning, and cross to the opposite side of opponents
• A brief Hextech shield keeps her protected while setting up traps or aiming her ultimate

Everyone Gets a Shot at Her

Riot is keeping Caitlyn accessible for everyone through multiple unlock methods:

• Complete the Champion Recruitment Event missions starting on launch day for free access
• Unlock her through the Ultra Battle Pass
• Spend a Champion Token for instant access

This model ensures Season 1 matches will be flooded with Caitlyn players right from day one, rather than locking her behind a paywall.

Thursdays Just Got More Important

Starting January 29, Riot is shifting the entire content calendar to Thursdays. The reasoning makes sense. If you're grinding during the week or hitting up weekend locals, Thursday gives you one clear day to knock out weekly missions without choosing between online play and tournament practice.

Here's what moves to Thursday:

• New skin drops
• Store resets
• Weekly mission refreshes

Three Seasons Instead of Five

The competitive roadmap changed direction since the original announcement. Instead of five seasons in 2026, the year now features three seasons. This follows the same model as Teamfight Tactics, where each set runs for about four months with a new Battle Pass dropping halfway through.

The season kicked off with Frosty Faustings XVIII signups closing on January 18, giving competitive players their first major offline event of the year from January 29 through February 1.

The Game Finally Feels Right

Riot confirmed Patch 1.1.1 includes a substantial number of bug fixes focused on improving controls and overall game polish. Previous patches tackled critical issues:

• Champions passing through each other unexpectedly
• Input bugs causing wrong-direction jumps
• Crashes tied to specific champion abilities
• Collision problems with corner-stealing moves when multiple champions crowded the screen
• Memory leaks during consecutive matches
• Disconnection frequency
• Incorrect Ranked points displays on leaderboards
• Language settings not properly applying to all game areas

What This Does to the Meta

The projectile changes alone flip the meta on its head. Teams that relied on Ekko Timewinder spam or Teemo mushroom setups while charging meter on the bench need completely new game plans. The removal of projectiles on hit means neutral game actually requires commitment rather than throwing out safe poke from full screen.

Caitlyn's arrival as a dedicated zoner creates interesting tension with these projectile nerfs. She's designed around space control, but her tools will disappear when they hit opponents just like everyone else's. This forces Caitlyn players to use traps and positioning rather than mindless projectile spam.

The assist cooldown changes reward aggressive play. If you hit someone's assist, you get 4 seconds where they can't call that character. Teams built around constant assist pressure will struggle, while teams that use assists strategically for specific situations get rewarded.

The character buffs should diversify tournament rosters. The top tiers won't disappear, but now there are legitimate alternatives that can compete. Lower-tier characters finally have the tools to hang with the dominant picks from Season 0.

Console Players Join the Fight

The console launch timing breaks down like this:

• PC maintenance downtime starts around 6pm CET on January 20
• Game goes live across all platforms around 3am CET on January 21
• Console launch hits January 20-21 depending on region
• Console players jump straight into Season 1 without the Early Access period PC players experienced

Your Progress Sticks Around

Season 1 brings more than just Caitlyn and console availability:

• Ultra Battle Pass includes new cosmetics
• In-game store expands with additional skin options
• Three seasons instead of five suggests deeper content drops per season
• No more account resets like during Closed Beta
• Everything you unlock stays with you across all future seasons

The focus on improving controls and fixing bugs shows Riot is prioritizing the player experience alongside new content. Fighting games live and die by how responsive they feel, and tightening up input consistency matters as much as adding new characters.

2XKO Season 1 Officially Arrives!

Patch 1.1.1 marks the true beginning of 2XKO's journey as a complete, multi-platform fighting game. The balance changes address the most complained-about aspects of Season 0 while opening up viable options for previously underperforming characters. Caitlyn adds genuine archetype diversity to the roster, and the projectile changes force everyone to play more deliberately.

PC players who've been here since Early Access are getting the game they've been asking for through months of feedback. Console players coming in fresh are walking into a significantly more balanced and polished experience than what launched in October. The meta is about to get far more diverse, assists actually have counterplay, and the big body characters finally have the frame data to compete. Season 1 isn't just a new chapter. It's a complete refresh of what 2XKO can be.

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Featured image credit: Riot Games