Riot Games, developer of League Of Legends and Valorant, have just revealed Yasuo, The Unforgiven is coming to Project L. The swordsman is joining the revealed roster of Riot's fighting ga?me project, and is playabl?e this weekend at Evo 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4zqkjXdYT0

Ever since he showed up in League Of Legends, Yasuo has been one of the scariest foes to face in the mid-lane due to his incredible potential to outplay and outdamage anyone. Naturally, the developers state that Project L's Yasuo is a multifaceted c??hampion who has an answer fo?r everything.

The trailer shows a nimble character capable of both defense and offense, as Yasuo pulls off a bunch of quick dashes, combos, and even his signature Wind Wall capable of blocking any projectile. Interestingly, however, though it shows up as part of a move, Yasuo doesn't use his other signature move, the tor?nado. This leads me to believe he won't have it as the traditional long-ranged Hadouken-style attack that one'd probably ?expect.

Who else is there in Project L?

The trailer also shows other champions in the game. There's a bit of Darius, a massive Noxian brute who, just like in LoL, will benefit from consecutively hitting enemies to build up extra damage from his wound meter. There's also a teaser for Ekko, an unpredictable trickster who'll use his chrono-abilities to repeat his successful combos. To finish it off, the trailer shows Ahri, a quick and nimble sorcerer who possesses both speed and long-ranged abilities. Riot also confirms that Illaoi and the fan-favorite star of Arcane, Jinx, will be joining the roster, but we're yet to see them i??n action.

The trailer also hints at the awesome combos we'll be able to achieve when pairing these characters together. That's awesome, but better yet is how Project L will allow us to get together with a friend to play it on duo co-op. Now that's true League Of Legends fashion.

Project L still doesn't have a release date, but I expect we'll ?be seeing many updat?es in the weeks and months to come.

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If you've thought that playing fighting games with friends gets a bit too contentious, Riot Games is working on an answer. The League of Legends company showed off more footage of its in-development fighting game Project L today with the r??eveal of Duo Play, a co-op option for the tag-team fighting gam?e.

Project L is a two-on-two tag fighter, similar to games like BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. This means each side fields two characters, picked out of the League of Legends universe of Runeterra, for its matches.

While you'd normally pilot these teams solo, Project L is also offering Duos, which lets two players team up and each handle an individual fighter. It basically turns Project L into a co-op tag fighter, where you can combo off each other, throw out assis??ts, and tag in and out.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KalbPq3Ic4

This Duo Play is something that other tag fighters have done before, but does seem particularly well-suited to Project L. Aside from the fun tie to duo queuing in League, it could make the arena feel a bit approachable for newcomers. Alongside the breakdown video above, Riot also published a showmatch, where its developers showed off the Duo Play mode in Project L.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4a7UzySL9o

If this seems like it's up your alley and you also happen to be in Las Vegas for Evo 2023, then you're in luck. Riot will be hosting show floor demos of Project L at the big fighting game event, with four playable chara??cters: Darius, Ahri, Ekko, and one to-be-revealed character.

Squaring off

That's not the only Project L content that hit today, either. A bunch of fighting game players and community members apparently got a hands-on session with Project L recently, and we?re able to talk a bit about it today.

From the sounds of it, there are still some restrictions around how much they can say about the roster and characters available. But still, we can get a pretty good sense of how all the systems are coming together. Alongside Duo Play, there are some other neat concepts for the fighter, like a Capcom Vs. SNK 2-alike Groove system.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn0NSqDLyMs

Project L has been in the works for quite some time now, and the team's been taking its time crafting this game. But I have to say, it looks like it's paying off. Everything here seems ready to entice a lot of players who don't often pick up fighting games, while still having some really nasty options for long-time competitors. The roster could be the cherry on top too, as League of Legends certainly doesn't have a shortage of champions to pick from. (I also secretly hope Riot pulls in a Valorant cameo or two.)

With the demo headed to Las Vegas and a super-secret surprise developer reveal scheduled for Evo 2023's Friday Showcase, I imagine we'll be hearing more from Riot soon. But it's nice to know that I won't necessarily have to always PvP my friends in Project L.

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2023 is heating up!

The 2023 fighting games lineup is heating up as we enter a new generation for the genre. The big guns like Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 12, and Tekken 8 are all on the horizon.

There are also some anime adaptations and indie titles to keep an eye on, as well. Here are all the upcoming 2023 fighting games, and a peek?? into what's after that.

[caption id="attachment_368318" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Street Fighter 6

Let's start with the king of fighting games, Capcom. The Japanese developer/publisher is launching Street Fighter 6 on June 2. Capcom has promised "the next evolution of Street Fighter" and from the trailers so far, it's hard to deny that. It has stunning graphics, a rollback netcode system, a big story mode to explore, and new commentators based on the FGC personalities we know around the world. The new characters like Kimberly and Jamie also look unique and add a new twist to the formula. After a disappointing Street Fighter 5, Capcom seems to have learned its lesson as SF6 se?ems jam-packed with content available to play from day one.

[caption id="attachment_368339" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via AEW and THQ Nordic[/caption]

AEW Fight Forever

WWE 2K23 is already out (or about to be, by the time you may read this), but AEW Fight Forever hopes it can carve its own niche in the market. Rather than going for a simulation-like focus, AEW Fight Forever is going all in on the arcade-style gameplay we know from the Nintendo 64/PlayStation era.  It will have all sorts of modes as well, including Single, Tag Team, 3-way, 4-way, Ladder, Casino Battle Royale, Falls Count Anywhere, Unsanctioned Lights Out, and Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch. There's also a "deep career mode," according to the Steam page. This game is also developed by Yuke's, the studio behind the WWE video game series for decades before Visual Concepts took over. No release date has been set, but it will likely come out in 2023.

[caption id="attachment_367086" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi

The long-awaited sequel to the Budokai Tenkaichi series is coming almost two decades later. There is a small teaser for the game that was released, and the graphics look true to the anime. Not much more can be said, other than that Bandai Namco is working on it. You just need to know the new Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi will likely be a 3D arena battler, dissimilar to the 2D Dragon Ball FighterZ. No release date is out yet, but it would be great on the list of 2023 fighting ga??mes.

[caption id="attachment_368336" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Kwalee[/caption]

Die by the Blade

Seemingly taking inspiration from Bushido Blade and the Deadliest Warrior fighting games, Die by the Blade has no health bars. Instead, you need to place a critical strike to finish off an enemy. Just one hit can finish off a fight. That rush of every hit mattering will likely make fighting game players excited. There will also be parrying and dodging in the game, elevating the stakes. The game is set in a unique environment, blending the traditional samurai era and cyberpunk together. Die by the Blade is set to release sometime this year. This fighting game will be out in 2023.

Garou: Mark of the Wolves sequel / New Fatal Fury

[caption id="attachment_368343" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via SNK OFFICIAL's? YouTube Channel[/caption]

A new game in the Fatal Fury franchise was announced back in August 2022, but no news has arisen since. We do know Rock Howard will be featured in the game, but no other details have been announced other than it being a new Fatal Fury or a sequel to cult-classic Garou: Mark of the Wolves. No release date has been provided as of the time of writing, but SNK's recent offerings like The King of Fighters XV and Samurai Shodown show promise.

Mortal Kombat 12

Like Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi, few details are known at the time of writing about Mortal Kombat 12. However, during an investor call, it was revealed that Mortal Kombat 12 will be released in 2023. "And there's lots more to come, including the highly-anticipated Mortal Kombat 12 and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, games also set for release this year with ambitious launch projections," said Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. It's possible we could hear more news for MK12 at E3 or during Summer Games Fest.

[caption id="attachment_368347" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Bandai Namco will be remastering all of the Ultimate Ninja Storm games into one package when Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections releases sometime this year. There will be a massive character roster when it releases with over 124 fighters, letting yo?u match Naruto with the likes of his son Boruto, Sasuke, Kiba, Konan, and many others. The collection will have the highlights of the entire story of the series ??in game form, so you can follow through with the campaign in one complete set.

[caption id="attachment_368341" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PQube[/caption]

Pocket Bravery

Pocket Bravery might be one of the biggest fighting game surprises of this year. The sprite-based graphics are animated in an impressively fluid way, and the gameplay itself requires some training to master. It has exciting special moves and a surprising amount of depth for an indie title such as this. Each stage starts off with an engaging cinematic and then as each round passes, the scenery changes. For example, you're on top of the Empire State Building on the New York stage, and the time of day passes from day to night. It's a neat touch, and you'll be left analyzing every piece of the stage to see what's changed. Pocket Bravery is slated for 2023, and there's a Steam demo for those intrigued. If the demo is anything to go by, you don't want to skip Pocket Bravery.

[caption id="attachment_368333" align="alignnone" width="1200"] ??Screensh??ot via Riot Games' YouTube Channel[/caption]

Project L

A League of Legends tag-style fighting game is in the works. It will bring the beloved characters over to the 2D fighting realm, and so far, Project L looks slick. "Gameplay with quick, fluid movement is important to us," said game director Shaun Rivera. The developer also wants you to enjoy the game "right away" but it also wants you to spend time mastering the systems on offer. Characters like Ecco look promising because they're dashing all over the map, using their quickness to their advantage. Meanwhile, Darius seems to be a slower, heavier character that wields a massive axe with massive reach. No release date has been given for Project L yet, but we do know it will be free-to-play like Riot Games' other titles League of Legends and Valorant. Hopeful?ly, it's going to be on the list for upcoming 2023 fighting games.

[caption id="attachment_368335" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Resistance 204X

If you ever wondered what would happen if you blend Nidhogg with fighting game mechanics, you get Resistance 204X. This game by Julio Quiroz is oozing with potential. The combat feels clean with plenty of flashing on-screen references to fighting game mechanics like cross-ups, smooth animation, and a standout Jet Set Radio-esque art style. Each character has their own moveset to offer as you try to get to the other side of the arena. Don't get too greedy with your distance, however, as your opponent can land on top of you in an instant. This is one of the most promising indie fighting games to come on the near horizon. Like many other games on this list, there isn't a definitive release date, but at the time of writing, there is a playtest you can take part in through Steam.

[caption id="attachment_368320" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Tekken 8

What we do know is that Tekken 8 will be launching on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Yes, it's ditching prior-generation hardware, so you know this fighting game will be packing some gorgeous visuals. The graphics have been elevated, and the story seems to have also. Heihachi is seemingly no more, and the series is now set on the rivalry between Kazuya and Jin. Maybe Kazuya will throw Jin into a raging river instead of a volcano; who knows? Unfortunately, no official release date has been given, but it's possible we could see Tekken 8 in late 2023 or early 2024.

[caption id="attachment_368342" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Steel City Interactive[/caption]

Undisputed

Those missing the Fight Night series may want to get their gloves ready, because Undisputed is due this year. The game is currently in Early Access and currently holds a Mostly Positive rating on Steam. The game seems to be the ultimate boxing simulator. It touts "revolutionary footwork mechanics" so you can float like a butterfly, and throw over 60 different punches from "multiple angles and directions." You can also fake a punch to trap your opponent. Talking about "stinging like a bee," you can play as the legendary Muhammad Ali, in addition to Sugar Ray Robinson, Tyson Fury, and over 50 licensed boxers. Female boxers like Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas are also featured in Undisputed. You can check out the Early Access version of the game? now, but publisher Steel City Interactive says it will release the full game "when [it feels] it's ready."

[caption id="attachment_368600" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Team Fray / McLeodGaming[/caption]

Fraymakers

No one has cracked the code when it comes to a Smash Bros-like crossover game for indie characters. (Indie Pogo excluded as it's not a traditional platform fighter.) However, Fraymakers may be the one to finally break the curse. The developer of Super Smash Flash 2 is on the project alongside Team Fray. So far, the roster has varied movesets that pay great tribute to the characters of their original games. For example, Octodad has long-reaching attacks with his tentacles, while Welltaro from Downwell uses his rocket boots for traversal. It's currently in Steam Early Access and is slated to release in appro?ximately two years.

The post 13 fighting games to look forward to in 2023 & beyond appeared first on Destructoid.

The teamfight meets the fighting game

As the year is nearing its end, Riot Games is spotlighting one of its League spin-offs. Project L, the League of Legends fighting game in development at Riot Games, got a new gameplay deep-dive today, showing? off its tag system and battles in even more detail.

First revealed in 2019, the still-codenamed Project L looks to take the brawls of Runeterra and bring them into the 2D fighting arena. Today, executive producer Tom Cannon and game director Shaun Rivera talked a little bit about the actual systems at work in Project L.

While the project started out as a one-on-one fighter, according to Rivera, the team swapped to a tag system about two years ago. Fights in Project L are two-on-two, much like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle or the first Marvel Vs. Capcom game.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zNqyHAP9zc

Alongside getting a new look at Illaoi, who's now playable in Riot's internal playtests and looks fearsome, the Project L team runs ?down the basics of their tag system. If you're already a fighting game player, you might be familiar with some of the ideas. Namely, that you always have a point character, the one playable on-screen, and an assist character, ??who can be called in for help or a tag-out. Here are the basic terms, which Rivera says are placeholder and could change.

Project L tag system actions

• Assist actions are the most common use-case. You call in your back-up character to execute a special assist attack. Rivera says each champion has two they can perform, and the input can be held for a charge assist.
• Next, the handshake tag lets players swap their characters. Using this tag, you can hand control over to the incoming assist character. As shown in the gameplay breakdown, this can lead to some tricky offensive options.
• Lastly, the dynamic save lets the assist character get the point out of a bad spot. It's an explosive intro to try and push back the enemy, much like the Burst in Guilty Gear Strive. If it's too predictable, though, it can be countered.

It's a pretty good look at what's in store for fighting game fans with Rio??t's entrance into the genre. No launch window has been set, but this update still has excited for what's to come in the future.

The post League of Legends fighter Pro??ject L sh?ares a look at its tag systems appeared first on Destructoid.

And Illaoi will be one of the fighters on-board

Evo 2022 kicks off this weekend. But before the fighting game festivities get underway, Riot Games is updating fans on the status of its own fighting game code-named Project L. It's also confirming that Project L will be free-to-play.

A new dev diary for Project L was published this morning, with developer Tom Cannon talking a bit about where the project is at. The team has been hard at work on development over the months since its last showing, spotlighting its assist features.

As the team continues to grow both its roster and features, Cannon confirms that the new? Riot game will be a free-to-play title.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbwmX-coQCM

"One of our goals is to remove as many barriers as possible from you enjoying Project L," Cannon says in the video. "We want you to be able to play no matter where you live, what your skill level is, or how much money you have to spend on a game. To that, I'm happy to confirm Project L will be free-to-play."

Cannon says the project team aims to be respectful of both players' time and wallet when it comes to monetization. Considering League of Legends, as well as its Riot-developed spin-offs like Legends of Runeterra or the competitive shooter Valorant are all free??-to-pl??ay, this isn't really a surprise at all.

The wrath of the kraken

The Project L team also confirms that Illaoi will be joining the roster of League champions in the fighting game's lineup. Illaoi is a great choice, in my opinion; she wields a massive go??lden idol and summons powerful tentacles from her kraken god. That's a good fighting game design.

The Riot dev blog goes into deeper detail on how the team chose Illaoi and built out her design, from her moves to translating her look into the 2D-planed fighter world. After playing the Airship Syndicate-developed RPG Ruined King, Illaoi seems like a grea??t choice for the roster alongside the likes of Darius, Ekko, Jinx, and Ahri.

Cannon teases we'll hear from the Project L team again before the end of the year.

The post Riot’s fighting game Project L will be free-to-play appeared first on Destructoid.

Just don't expect it to arrive too soon

Over the weekend we got another glimpse of Project L, Riot Games' forthcoming League of Legends fighting game. And while its launc??h is still a ways off, progress seems pretty good so far.

Tom and Tony Cannon joined a Riot Games stream to showcase some of what the Project L team has been working on so far. They confirmed it is a 2-on-2, assist-based fighting game. If you need a reference point, think BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle or Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.?? Players pick a?? pair of champions and duke it out in the ring.

Right off the bat, you'll probably notice some Arcane influence. ??The foot??age they showed Ekko and Jinx, in an arena set against a bridge that plays heavily in the show.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hugGCZon3I

Ekko makes use ??of time mechanics, using after-images to route out some interesting combos and follow-ups in sync with his time grenades. I'm glad they chose Ekko as a character, both because his design is fantastic and his time-based kit seems like a great fit for an assist fighter like this.

Both in the video and on the Riot Games blog, the Cannons dive a bit deeper into their plans for Project L. Netcode is a big priority, as the team confirms it's starting with rollback netcode as a foundation and adding in additional tech like RiotDirect, which the company uses for minimizing ping in League of Legends and Valorant.

But the team also set some expectations in terms of Project L and its eventual launch. Though the team has made progress, what it's shown was a vertical slice, and t??he game will not be shipping in 2021 or 2022. They do plan on publishing some more updates moving forward thoug??h, with at least two updates planned for next year and the first one arriving sometime early in the second half of 2022.

Riot Games has been on a tear publishing games, with several of its Riot Forge games going live last ??week. On the first-party end, Valorant is still its most recent release. But with Project L and others potentially in the pipeline, it seems like there's a lot of League still to come.

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