2XKO just revealed its roadmap and the future of the game is clearer than ever. In this episode of Double Tap, we break down the 2XKO dev update after layoffs, including Akali and Senna gameplay impressions, duo mode plans, and what the renewed focus on competitive programs means for the FGC. We also react to the Marvel Tokon new character reveals from State of Play, featuring Wolverine, Magic, and early roster speculation around the launch roster. Finally, we tackle the Capcom Cup 12 PPV controversy, the Street Fighter 6 Battle Hub live stream trial, and what this shift could mean for how fans watch major fighting game events moving forward.

Timestamps

00:02:28 2XKO Dev Update & Duo Mode Plans
00:06:06 2XKO Local Tournament Support & Rewards
00:08:31 2XKO Content Gaps vs Street Fighter 6
00:12:28 Ranked Play vs Casual Players Debate
00:15:00 Akali 2XKO Reveal & Redesign Reactions
00:24:35 Senna 2XKO Reveal
00:32:54 Marvel Tokon Updated Roster & Gameplay
00:56:14 Dead or Alive 6 Last Round Announced
01:02:02 Capcom Cup Pay-Per-View Debate

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3qf

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riot just dropped a bomb on the FGC with 2XKO layoffs, and we’re breaking down what it really means for the game’s future. Is this standard restructuring, or a sign that 2XKO development could shift in a major way? We dive into EVO 2026 registration ranks and early trends to see what the numbers reveal about the health of the fighting game community. Plus, we react to the Marvel Tokon's confirmed 20 character launch lineup, and what we’re hoping to see at State of Play.

Timestamps

00:00:00 2XKO Hype, Launch, and Layoffs
00:08:00 2XKO Design and Monetization Issues
00:19:38 2XKO Future Direction
00:30:40 EVO 2026 Early Registration Numbers
00:35:41 Street Fighter 6 Sales Update
00:47:19 Marvel Tokon Roster Leak
01:13:56 What Makes Tournaments Welcoming?

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3qe

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 16 year old wins a major, international killers get upset, and the ballroom is packed with energy. Frosty Faustings 2026 was more than just another fighting game tournament. It felt like a full FGC health check and the results were clear: the fighting game community is thriving. We break down our biggest moments from Frosty Faustings 2026, including the 2XKO breakout performance, Street Fighter 6 results, Guilty Gear Strive crowd energy, and what this event says about the state of the fighting game community in 2026. If you have been wondering whether offline fighting games are still alive, this major gave us the answer.

Timestamps

00:03:26 Venue, Food, and Artist Alley
00:12:49 Event Structure, Scheduling, and Fixes
00:22:08 Our Tournament Highlights and Top Moments
00:27:21 Salt, 0-2s, and Hard Lessons
00:35:09 Anyone Can Win in the FGC
00:42:44 FGC Health Check
00:58:03 Community, Coaching, and Growth
01:15:12 Chicago Recap and QOTW

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3qb

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is 2XKO actually ready for competitive play, or is it still finding its footing? Evan Almighty joins Double Tap to talk about how the game feels now that it is in players’ hands and where it fits in the broader fighting game community. He shares early thoughts on the meta, how Caitlyn is shaping matches so far, and what expectations players should have as the scene grows. The discussion also covers Alex’s Street Fighter 6 gameplay, the latest Mortal Kombat Legacy update, and Frosty Faustings 2026, along with how new players can start learning 2XKO without feeling overwhelmed.

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3q9

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2XKO is officially launched, and Caitlyn wasted no time making an impression on the early Season 1 meta. We share our first thoughts on her kit, why the combo potential already looks scary, and what that could mean once players really get time in the lab. We also discuss the City of the Wolves Season 2 reveal and the community backlash over the use of AI generated characters in the trailer. Finally, we get into the Rivals of Aether Workshop reveal and why community built content is such a big deal for the FGC.

Timestamps

00:01:36 2XKO Caitlyn Impressions
00:13:06 2XKO Season 1 - Trailer
00:24:35 2XKO Season 1 - Patch Notes
00:40:57 CotW Season 2 Characters
00:45:55 CoTW AI Controversy
00:54:42 Rivals of Aether 2 Workshop
01:03:15 Experiencing Something New in 2026

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3q5

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evo Japan 2026 registration numbers make it clear which game is carrying the event (spoiler alert: it’s Street Fighter 6). We talk through Alex’s SF6 World Tour trailer, Caitlyn’s first full 2XKO gameplay reveal, and what her kit could mean for Riot’s upcoming fighter. The episode also covers Kenshiro’s appearance in the City of the Wolves teaser and why SNK’s crossover is turning heads with longtime fighting game fans. We close out with a conversation about Harada’s retirement and what it could mean for Tekken’s future and the wider Fighting Game Community.

Timestamps

00:01:37 New Year, New Tournaments
00:12:45 EVO Japan - Street Fighter Edition
00:25:13 Kenshiro CotW Teaser
00:31:48 Alex SF6 World Tour Trailer
00:39:20 Harada's Retirement
00:49:02 2XKO Caitlyn Trailer & Movelist
01:05:49 2XKO Patch Notes

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3q2

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crash and Jaa are joined by Aaron David Harris as we throw iconic fighting game legends into the ring and ask the question every FGC fan loves to argue about: who would actually win? We break down matchups like Liu Kang vs Kilik, Oro vs Jinpachi Mishima, and a chaotic “Blonde Bombshells” debate featuring Nina Williams, Sonya Blade, and Cammy. Things get weird in the best way with Peacock vs Faust, before we wrap it up with a heavyweight showdown between Heihachi Mishima and Takuma Sakazaki (Mr. Karate). We lean on lore, abilities, mindset, and straight-up fight logic, and when the arguments get stuck, we bring in a judge to figure out who really walks away with the win.

Timestamps

00:02:26 Five Bouts Overview
00:08:49 Liu Kang vs. Kilik
00:14:03 Oro vs. Jinpachi
00:25:38 Blonde Bombshells
00:41:08 Peacock vs. Faust
00:54:17 Heihachi vs. Takuma Sakazaki
01:15:22 Final Scores

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3py

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode of 2025, we break down the flood of announcements from the last two weeks across the FGC. The Game Awards delivered new 2XKO character reveals, a console launch update, the Street Fighter movie trailer, and a bit of news on Marvel Tokon. We also dive into the EVO announcement show, covering dates, featured games, and format changes coming to EVO 2026. We’re excited for what’s ahead—but we can’t ignore the rising cost of attending the biggest fighting game tournament of the year.

Timestamps

00:01:32 Street Fighter Movie Trailer Reaction
00:21:42 Aging Player Responses
00:24:15 2XKO Caitlyn and Console Announcements
00:34:22 SF6 and Avatar Announcements
00:37:42 Marvel Tokon Beta 2 Afterthoughts
00:57:09 Evo 2026 Announcements
01:13:12 The Cost of Going to Evo

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3pt

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're covering the new Virtua Fighter documentary and what it reveals about Virtua Fighter history, fundamentals, and the legends who shaped the series. We also break down the current state of 2XKO, diving into how recent balance changes are affecting the meta and what FGC community reactions tell us about where the game is headed. Finally, we share thoughts heading into Marvel Tokon Beta 2, looking at how character balance is evolving and shaping the early competitive scene.

Timestamps

01:11 VF Doc: Final Round
13:58 Marvel Tokon Beta 2
19:38 State of 2XKO
41:26 What is Your Ranked Philosophy
55:25 Personal FGC History Quiz

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3ps

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Jeremiah Ward
twitter.com/mezzafgc

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're exploring how the Steam Box impacts the FGC with a detailed look at its performance specs and what the hardware debate means for competitive fighting games. The latest Marvel Tokon beta update brings significant changes to the table, and we break down what players need to know about the newest build and character adjustments. Plus, Chun Li finally arrives in City of the Wolves, and we're diving into her gameplay mechanics, what Chun Li brings to COTW gameplay, and early FGC reactions to her debut.

Timestamps

00:55 Steam Machine Revealed
05:33 Portability & Market Fit
10:23 Steam Machine Pricing Breakdown
14:12 Steam Machine Tournament Viability
17:20 Marvel Tokon Beta Update
20:11 New Stages & Characters
27:18 Chun‑Li Update and Gameplay Impressions
33:31 Would You Rather Community Discussion
41:44 2XKO Sajam Slam Rants and Content Creator Diversity

Episode URL: mtb.gg/3po

Hosts:

Andres Mirandes
twitter.com/CrashtagVS

Gabriel Medina
twitter.com/StaticGorilla

Thank you for listening to a Mash Those Buttons podcast! You can keep up with all of our podcasts in the following locations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices