Following a last-minute delay earlier this week, SNK has officially revealed King of Fighters XV for the first time. The studio has also detailed some of the content coming as part of Samurai Shodown's upcoming Season Pass 3.
What can we expect from King of Fighters XV?
The first official King of Fighters XV trailer is more of a teaser than a full reveal, but it does show some returning favorites like Mai and Kyo, as well as Fatal Fury's Sound Beach stage. King of Fighters XV's official slogan is "Shatter All Expectations", and the game currently has a tentative release date of 2021. This news comes after the announcement was delayed earlier this week. Although no reason was given, it's possible the delay was due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as Japan recently declared a state of emergency. You can check out the first King of Fighters teaser trailer right here:
Alongside the trailer, SNK also released a "message video" in which King of Fighters XV producer Yasuyuki Oda chats to creative director Eisuke Ogura. In the video, Ogura says the team is focused on maintaining KoF's signature fast-paced gameplay, but will also be adding "elements to make it more exciting". He goes on to say the team is capable of doing things with visuals and sound that weren't possible for previous instalment King of Fighters XIV. Ogura says that although he expects "some obstacles" to impede development, the team expects to be able to deliver the game sometime this year. Ogura also says a new trailer should be ready for the game sometime next week, so keep an eye out for that.
What's coming in Samurai Shodown's Season Pass 3?
As well as the King of Fighters XV announcement, SNK also released some information about Samurai Shodown's upcoming Season Pass 3. It'll launch in mid-March and will bring returning favorite character Cham Cham with it. A second new character, The Last Blade 2's Hibiki Takane, is also in the works, and will launch for the game sometime this year. Finally, Samurai Shodown Season Pass 3 will introduce the ability to Guard Crush opponents, alongside several balance and gameplay improvements.
It's been a somewhat strange year for SNK. Back in November last year, the legendary Japanese developer was purchased by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to bin Salman's foundation (through machine translation), the deal was intended to "build partnerships" between Saudi and international organizations and to "increase investment" in intellectual capital. It's not clear what the deal will actually mean for SNK's day-to-day operations.
Are you looking forward to King of Fighters XV and the new Samurai Shodown content? Let us know in the comments below!
