2XKO Accessibility Review
Is this free-to-play fighting game accessible to those with disabilities? Let’s discuss!
The League of Legends fighting game 10 years in the making is finally here! But is it an accessible way for those with disabilities to join in on this multimedia franchise? Let’s talk about it!
I played 2XKO both on an arcade cabinet at Evo last year and on Xbox Series X using both the Lili version of the TEKKEN 8 Victrix Pro FS Arcade Fight Stick for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Personal Computer (PC) and a first-generation Snackbox Micro for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC plugged into the Xbox using a Brook adapter. I played the free version and did not put any money into the game. I played it for a little more than 4 hours.
Successes in Accessibility:
Skippable photos sensitivity and epilepsy warning at start-up.
Tutorial upon launch.
Text in the tutorial is high contrast.
Speech bubbles are high contrast with an easy to read font.
Button-remapping available at any time other than online matches.
A controller input display is able to be turned on in tutorials and training with a choice of system button displays or 2XKO names for the buttons.
The volumes of different types of noises in the game can be changed.
Avatar options are gender neutral.
Avatar options include glasses, bionic arms, and heterochromia.
The tutorial can be played as many times as the player would like and anytime outside of online matches.
Game controls do not require complex motions (at least that I could find).
Voice tracks available in English, French (France), German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), and Spanish (Mexico) and text options available in Arabic, Chinese (Traditional), English, French (France), German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Spanish (Mexico), Thai, Turkish. While I don’t understand any language but English, I saw a good review for the Latin American Spanish voice track.
A chat filter available to censor explicit language.
A menu narrator option (though hearing the English AI narrator struggle to say phrases in other languages is kind of funny).
A contrast reduction option to reduce flashing and visual effects with low and high options. However, I do not live with photo sensitivity or epilepsy, so if you do, please speak with your doctor first before playing the game to see if these settings are sufficient.
The online gameplay is free, even if you don’t pay for Xbox’s online service.
The algorithm that matches players based on skill is pretty accurate, as I’ve had close matches as a filthy casual and had a friend who is very good at fighting games report they have found more difficult matches.
While the free version only comes with 6 characters (Ahri, Braum, Darius, Ekko, Illaoi, and Yasuo) plus an extra character of a person’s choice after completing the tutorial, the other characters can be earned by free in-game currency. You don’t need to pay money to enjoy all of the game play, as only cosmetics cost real money.
You do not need to buy a character to have access to their training mode and combo trials.
Every part of the game can be played and accessed with a D-Pad and 6 buttons.
There are no gambling mechanics (that I could find).
Suggestions for Better Accessibility:
Having the accessibility and language menu open on launch. Many accessibility settings and the language menu cannot be accessed until after the tutorial.
Fixing the photosensitivity and epilepsy warning. It automatically progresses with not nearly enough time to read it.
An option to avoid creating a Riot account to start the game. Users have to make a Riot account to start the game, which is annoying to those who just wanted to play the tutorial to see if the game is accessible for them and inaccessible for those who do not have a computer or smart phone with internet access or have difficulty using them due to disability.
Options to change font styles. The title font for character names and titles on tutorial can be hard to read
Fixing the later Defense tutorial, as it keeps freezing at the second step of the second lesson.
Adding reminders for which button controls are needed during later tutorial tasks.
A way to access online matches outside of needing to navigate a 3-D lobby (similar to accessing matches through arcade mode in Street Fighter 6). The button option to find matches in the Casual lobby still requires the user to guide their character to a seat in the lobby.
Removing time limits on battle passes and allowing the items to be individually purchased in the shop. Check out my previous article on the inaccessibility of time-limited releases where I explain how this mechanic is inaccessible to many and takes advantage of children and those who live with mental health disabilities.
Adding the option for gameplay audio cues, similar to Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, that allow players without sight to enjoy the game.
Adding audio descriptions of in-game visuals.
I would love to see more disability and diverse representation in the avatar creation, such as adding mobility and hearing aids and other assistive technology, as well as braces (like the ones I use for my hands), vitiligo, and eye patches.
The ability to turn off the Video Home System (VHS)-style scan lines on gameplay.
Adding a high-contrast mode.
Conclusion:
Overall, I think 2XKO has made a great effort to make their game accessible to many different types of players. By offering their game for free, it allows people with disabilities to test out if the game is a good fit for them without taking a financial risk. It also allows those with limited income to enjoy the game without putting themselves in a bad financial situation if they already own the hardware to play it and have an internet connection. I feel I’ve gotten more out of 2XKO for free than I have Street Fighter 6, which I paid the full $60 price for at launch and have since put in around $50 for downloadable content (DLC) characters and cosmetics. This is because 2XKO does not require fast paced camera controls that are inaccessible to me as Street Fighter 6’s extensive World Tour mode requires, its online console gameplay is free and does not require a paid subscription like Street Fighter 6’s does, and unlocking characters does not require real life currency like for Street Fighter 6. If you would like to read my full thoughts on Street Fighter 6’s inaccessibility, check out my last article on partial accessibility in games. I hope that Riot will make a few tweaks to 2XKO so it can become an accessible game for more people with disabilities.
Disclaimers:
Everything in this review are my personal experiences and opinions, therefore are not to be taken as facts.
I am not sponsored by any companies, manufacturers, creators, or organizations mentioned.
Everyone’s situation is different. Accessibility isn’t “one size fits all”.
This is not medical advice.
Please talk to a doctor first before making decisions regarding your health and/or engaging in a new activity that may affect your health.
If you feel pain or sickness from an activity, please stop and speak with a doctor.
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, please call your local emergency services or, if you are in the United States of America (USA), 911.
If you’re experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please call your local emergency services or, if you are in the USA, 911 or 988.
For information regarding medical, mental health, and accessibility services in the USA, please contact your insurance company, 211, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI: 1-800-950-6264).