King Of Fighters XV Release Date, Trailer And Gameplay - What We Know So Far
"King of Fighters 15" from SNK is finally real. The first entry in the main series since 2016, "King of Fighters 15" will have a massive roster at launch, with 33 of the 39 characters already announced for the game, including Terry, who was upstaged by Kirby when he was added into "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate." The game features the classic 3v3 fighting style of the previous "King of Fighters" games and adds new fighting mechanics, including Shatter Strike, which defends against and counters incoming attacks.
One of the biggest new features in "King of Fighters 15" is the rollback net code, which has become a standard for online fighting games. For those unfamiliar, rollback net code treats each individual player as a local player and attempts to "predict" their opponents' movements. If the prediction is incorrect, the game can adjust on a frame-by-frame basis, so the experience always feels smooth. This also means that players' inputs are taken instantly, so the game doesn't feel like there is any latency, even against an opponent with a bad connection. There are a few exceptions to this, like "Smash Bros." pros being embarrassed that "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl" had it when "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" did not. It will also launch with Ranked and Casual play, plus a draft mode where you need to pick your favorite characters before your opponent. Still, there are many details left to learn about the latest installment in the fighting franchise. Here's what we know so far.
When is the release date for King of Fighters 15?
"King of Fighters 15" releases on February 17, 2022, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and on PC. At the time of writing, a Nintendo Switch release has not been announced for the title. Unfortunately for "KOF 15," it is releasing at a crowded time, surrounded by titles including "Saints Row" (February 25, 2022), "Horizon Forbidden West" (February 18, 2022), and "Elden Ring" (January 21, 2022). That said, "King of Fighters 15," doesn't have too much competition when it comes to high-profile fighting games being released in the early part of the year.
When "King of Fighters 15" releases in 2022, it will be the first game in the direct series since 2016, and only the third since 2010, so fans are sure to be excited. It will also include the iconic "Fatal Fury" character Mai, who was not included in "Super Smash Bros" because she was too hot for what Nintendo considers a game for children. Players who pre-order the Deluxe Edition of "KOF XV" on PS4, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S will get access to the game three days early in addition to the first six DLC characters. Anyone who pre-orders will get a special costume for Terry and people who pre-order the special edition will get a classic costume for Leona.
Is there a trailer for King of Fighters 15?
"King of Fighters 15" has a ton of trailers on the SNK official YouTube channel, with videos highlighting each individual character. However, there is only one "official trailer" which is nearly five minutes long, introducing new and returning characters, gameplay mechanics, and the story mode for "King of Fighters 15." In the story mode, the next King of Fighters tournament has begun, where challengers compete to determine who is the best fighter. As this tournament begins, an evil dormant force awakens, and the destruction of the Earth becomes imminent.
The trailer also shows off the many features of "King of Fighters 15," including the different training modes. It also boasts "a special animated short by world renowned director Masami Obari," as well as over 300 original audio tracks from previous games in the series. Finally, the end of the trailer reveals that there will be at least six DLC characters added to "King of Fighters 15," after launch, bringing the full roster to 45 characters.
What is the gameplay like in King of Fighters 15?
In early October 2021, IGN published a 15-minute gameplay video from the Tokyo Game Show 2021. The preview showcased the different moves and fighting styles of some of the characters of "King of Fighters 15." As mentioned earlier, "King of Fighters 15" is a 3v3 fighter, however, unlike other team-based fighting games, you don't switch characters during the fight. Instead, you set the order of your three characters ahead of the fight and must defeat your opponent's three fighters in order, before they defeat yours. This adds a layer of strategy when it comes to setting up your team of fighters.
There are also two new abilities in battle, Max Mode and Max Mode Quick. Per SNK, Max Mode can be triggered after filling the two or more power gauges, giving your character increased attack and guard crush strength for a limited time. Max Mode Quick kicks in "upon landing" an attack or combo in Max Mode (even if they're blocked), allowing you to roll into the next attack "without leaving an opening" between them. Max Mode Quick does not increase attack or guard crush strength but instead allows for increased combo length.
Fans will be happy to know that RUSH, EX Special Moves, Super Special Moves, Max Super Special Moves, and Climax Super Special Moves all make their returns in this entry.