Evo is a major event for fighting game tournaments and news. This year, we've seen updates announced for some of the biggest games in the genre, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1. There's even a brief teaser for SNK's ??next bout. Here's ??all the news at Evo 2023 you should know about.

[caption id="attachment_395265" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Street Fighter 6 x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

After a musical performance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song, Capcom announced a new crossover for Street Fighter 6. Starting August 8, there will be four skins for your custom characters based on the radical reptiles, pizza-riffic emotes, new titles,? stamps, mobile wallpaper, and camera frames. This bit of EVO 2023 news was one of the highlights of the s??how for me.

//youtu.be/TY-k6jYzXtg

A.K.I. joins the battle in Street Fighter 6

Capcom also teased its next Street Fighter 6 character, A.K.I. She looks twisted, and poisons your custom character in the trailer. No gameplay was shown, but we do know she'??ll be avail??able sometime this Fall.

[caption id="attachment_395269" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot ?via Mortal Kombat YouTube channel[/caption]

Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile are in Mortal Kombat 1

Three new characters were announced in a stellar Mortal Kombat 1 trailer. You'll be able to play as Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile when the game arrives on September 19, 2023. Ashrah is a surprising choice, as she hasn't been in the series since the PS2 game Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Regardless, she looks like she fits in with her ??brutal Fatality. Sareena is also coming back, but as a Kameo fighter this time aroun?d.

[caption id="attachment_395273" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via a??rcsystemworks YouT??ube channel[/caption]

Johnny returns in Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3

Shirtless and ready to strike his foes, Johnny returns as the first character of Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3. He swings his katana with a quickening pace, and also unleashes cards, even turning people into them and slashing the??m up when the opportunit?y arises. He'll be available to play on August 24.

Season Pass 3 will include one more character in 2023 and an additional two in 202?4. It will also come with two more stages, more color variants for your characters, and two extra colors for the Season 3 characters.

Arc System Works also confirmed that the game's reached 2.5 million players, making Guilty Gear Strive a huge success for the studio.

//youtu.be/cTyy0kgQ8Ug

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves hypes up the crowd

After The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown getting acclaim from fans and critics alike, the Fatal Fury series is returning with City of the Wolves. Not much was announced, but there was a little teaser by SNK, showcasing Terry and Rock Howard in the game. The graphics seem to be an upgrade too, with more visu?al details and improved lighting.

No?? release date has been given, but SNK fitt?ingly said it is "furiously in development."

[caption id="attachment_395281" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Sc??reenshot via SNK OFFICIAL YouTube channel[/caption]

The King of Fighters XV adds Najd and Duo Lon, and KOF XIII gets a re-release date

On August 8, Najd will be available as a DLC character in The King of Fighters XV. Duo Lon will then follow her sometime this Autumn, which starts on September 23 and ends on Decem??ber 21.

Additionally, The King of Fighters XIII Global Match will hit PS4 and Switch on November 16 with ro?llback netcode.

//youtu.be/30GpU_0A8Rg

Raven and Azucena join the Tekken 8 roster

Fan favorite character Raven and the coffee-obsessed newcomer Azucena are a part of the Tekken 8 roster. Raven is using his shadow skills that might remind you of Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu. Meanwhile, Azucena has an intriguing dodge feature with some tasty counters shown off in the trailer. Tekken 8 still has no release date attached.

[caption id="attachment_395287" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Scr??eenshot via RIot Games' YouTube ?channel[/caption]

League of Legends fighting game Project L adds Yasuo

The in-development 2v2 fighter Project L is adding the c??hampion Yasuo into the mix. His?? move set includes a far-reaching sword and quick attacks in the air. He can also release tornados and wind walls against his opponents.

"He can outplay with mix-ups, he can go to the air for really technical combos, play defense with his wind wall, o??r honestly just win neutral with his huge normals," said lead champion designer Alex Jaffe. Sadly, no release date for Project L was announced amid all the news at Evo 2023.

//youtu.be/GYIOUxYBukw?t=354

Plankton is a new character in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

The tiny Plankton from Bikini Bottom is joining the bout in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 in a mech. He has all sorts of weaponry to fight off the likes of?? Aang, Reptar, and Spongebob SquarePants. He, alongside Squidward, will be a part of the main roster when the game launches later this year.

//youtu.be/2Dc4F_fC0nc?t=42

Killer Instinct is getting a huge update

Cult-favorite Killer Instinct is getting a major update from Xbox Game Studios and Iron Galaxy for the first time in years. It will include better matchmaking, a balance update, and all-new 4K support on Xbox Series X|S. It will be coming this Fall. Now that Iron Galaxy and Xbox are working together on this, perhaps talk of a sequel could arise between the two companies after Rumbleverse's shutdown in February.

//youtu.be/m55Ju_OmSvU

Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes is bringing "Dramatic Stylish 2D Fighting Action" in 2024

After more than ten years and many versions, Under Night In-Birth is getting a sequel. It will be launching early next year for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Sorry, Xbox fans. Additionally, there will be rollb??ack netcode.

Arc System Works says there will be "completely redesigned visuals" and "even more playable characters to be added" down the line. The trailer's description also touts that there will be "new moves and new battle systems" that further evolve the battle in Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbI26Ehde3g

GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising gets a release date

The release date for the sequel Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is November 30, as announced at Evo. As the festive season begins, we'll be battling it out as Gran and other characters in a three-part story and a new mode called Grand Bru?ise. Additionally, there is crossplay and rollback netcode available in this new version of the game. More characters a??re available too, including Anila, Grimnir, Nier, and Siegfried.

//youtu.be/yKUH3zTNWMk

Maypul comes to Rivals 2

Finally, the fox-like combatant Maypul joins the Smash-like Rivals 2. She brings three different plants with her to the battle, including Lily, Terry, and Poppy. She'll also b??e the fastest character in the game. Maypul's combos look thrilling in the trailer itself. The game launches sometime next year.

That's it for Evo 2023 news cycle. Which fighting games are you most looking forward to next year, and will you be playing as Michelangelo in Street Fighter 6's avatar battles?

The post All the fighting game news from EVO 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Look at that little face

Something wicked this way comes �And while many would attempt to block her path, pointing to an increasingly large roster, already bolstered with the addition of seasonal DLC characters and free-to-download bosses, there is no escaping fate, no escaping destiny, no escaping the fact that Sylvie Paula Paula is stepping back into the ring in King of Fighters XV, and is doing so in just seven short days.

Making her debut in 2016's King of Fighters XIV, and also popping up in the femme-friendly SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, Sylvie Paula Paula is a relatively new addition to the KoF universe, though has made her impact felt via her air-raid-siren personality and wild array of colorful, cumbersome, Met Gala esque fashions. Much like Tekken's Lucky Chloe, Sylvie Paula Paula offers a vibe of cheerful wholesomeness, b??ut with the volume ??cranked up to deafening levels.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGffinSuRQ8&t

A master of electromagnetic energy, Sylvie distracts her opponents with her childlike demeanor and Everyday Is Christmas attitude, before zapping them with Emperor ?Palpatine-esque waves of pure powah. Behi??nd her adorable face and cuddly character lies a girl whose hobbies include "Collecting the fingerprints of good-looking men", and whose best friends are listed as "The ones in her head". She also dislikes "Not Cute Things" and "Beards" �so we're clearly dealing with somebody who is Absolutely Fine.

Sylvie Paula Paula will join KoF XV on May 16, the latest DLC character for Season 2, following messrs. Shingo Yabuki, Kim Kaphwan, and Goenitz. Sylvie will be followed by the Middle Eastern vigilante Najd at a later date, along with additional updates, characters, and balance changes. It may seem I'm being a tad harsh on young Sylvie here, but honestly, I love her design, and if KoF XV was my main game I'd def??initely be adding her to my team. WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!??!

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayStation, PC, and ?Xbox Se?ries X.

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The other King of tha Streets

It's a mighty fine weekend for PlayStation fighting game fans, as developer SNK has released a demo for its top-tier scrapper The King of Fighters XV on both PS4 & PS5 platforms. Available on PSN right now, the trial gives players a chance to check out the 2022 team-b??ased battler.

Th??e demo allows users to engage in three-on-three battles in an offline capacity, opening up the fighters' VS. mode, as well as its deep Training options. Players can take on the CPU or a local friend in exhibition bouts, utilizing a team of 15 characters pulled from KoF XV's massive roster of sluggers. It should be noted that the demo is standalone, and will not carry over any data should you pull the ??????????????????????????trigger on a full purchase.

The 15 ??characters included in the demo are *de??ep breath*

• Athena Asamiya (Super Heroine Team)
• Benimaru Nikaido (Hero Team)
• Chizuru Kagura (Sacred Treasures Team)
• Chris (Orochi Team)
• Dolores (Rival Team)
• Heidern (Rival Team)
• Iori Yagami (Sacred Treasures Team)
• Isla (Rival Team)
• Kula Diamond (Krohnen Team)
• Kyo Kusanagi (Sacred Treasures Team)
• Mai Shiranui (Super Heroine Team)
• Meitenkun (Hero Team)
• Ryo Sakazaki (Art of Fighting Team)
• Shun’ei (Hero Team)
• Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury Team)

Released in February of last year, The King of Fighters XV is an excellent entry in SNK's storied series, featuring a huge roster, incredibly deep and complex mechanics, and audio and visuals upgraded from its predecessor. This year will see SNK release several further characters to the title, including intolerable KoF '98 boss Goenitz, fan-designed vigilante Najd, and the nightmare bundle of cuteness that is Svlvie Paula Paula.

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayS??tation, ??PC, and Xbox Series X.

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Backstreet Boss

SNK has announced that another legendarily irritating boss character is headed to the roster of its neat scrapper The King of Fighters XV �Goenitz, he of mythic wind abilities and boyband haircut, will be joining the ??roster as part of a free DLC update launching this summer.

Goenitz made his debut in the popular sequel The King of Fighters '96, where he was presented as one of the antagonistic Four Kings of Orochi.  Goenitz �or "Goenitz of the Wildly-Blowing Wind" �is typified by his graceful, carefree, and aloof movements, his ability to conjure powerful blasts of air on the fly, and his horrific chinstrap beard and undercut highlights combo. He is, in essence, the "father" of the Orochi-powered team of Chris, Shermie, and Yashiro, all of whom are already present in KoF XV.

You can check out a sneak peek at Goenitz in the video below, timed to 2:45.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed65K9MnidQ&t=153s&ab_channel=S??????????????????????????NKOFFICIAL

The coming of Goenitz is one of a number of updates planned for the title's new season. This week has already seen the return of veteran character Kim Kaphwan, who is now available to purchase as part of KoF XV's expansive roster. In addition, we can expect to see the ABSOLUTE MENACE Sylvie Paula Paula make her return in just a few months' time, as well as the initial tests for cross-platform capabilities. We can expect three further characters to arrive in 2023, alongside new balance adjustments. All in, KoF XV is getting the best post-release support offered to an SNK release in man??y moons.

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayStation, ??PC, and Xbox Series ??X.

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He of Billowing Pants returns

SNK has released a new trailer for the next fighter headed to its great 2022 release The King of Fighters XV �And, for KoF fans, this boy needs no introduction, as spring will see the return of one of the most notable, stoic, and J??U?STICE-ridden characters in SNK history, the taekwondo king: Kim Kaphwan!

Having made his debut in 1992's Fatal Fury 2, Kim fast became one of the universe's most reliable and beloved characters, as well as one of the KoF franchise's most solid fighters. Hailing from South Korea, Kim utilizes his incredible martial arts abilities to better the world, bestowing a sense of honor into all he meets and ensuring justice is seen to be done for those who have strayed from a path of enlightenment. Kim's role in KoF famously saw his endless effo?rts to rehabilitate criminals Choi Bounge and Chang Koehan. Despite his boy scout nature, Kim is a respecte??d character among the SNK community.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO_GppPzlig&ab_ch??annel=SNKOFFICIAL

As the above trailer demonstrates, Kim is bringing his iconic and acrobatic range of kicks to the King of Fighters XV party, including his range of devastating flying axe kicks, his gravity-defying headstomps, and his incredible, lightning-speed Supers. Sadly, Kim's iconic pants aren't quite as billowy as they were in his 2D days, but anybody picking up Kim as DLC will at least receive his classic costume as a bonus skin. Kim Kaphwan will be available this spring, with further characters expected later in 2023.

The King of Fighters XV is a??vailable now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox Series X.

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She's baaa-aaaaack...

SNK has offered up some exciting news for its excellent tag-fighter The King of Fighters XV �Not only do we now know that new DLC character Shingo Yabuki will be returning as ??soon as next week, but the developer also revealed?? two more characters coming our way in 2023: The crime-fighting vigilante Najd and the terrifying Sylvie Paula Paula!

In an update the KoF XV's Season 2 roadmap, SNK revealed that its first DLC drop, consisting of Shingo Yabuki and a meaty balance overhaul, will go live on all platforms on January 17. The Kyo Kusanagi fanboy will be followed in the spring by veteran Fatal Fury star and bringer of JUSTICE Kim Kaphwan. Around this time, SNK also hopes to launch a beta for its crossplay servers, which are expected to officially open at some point later t?his summe??r.

//www??.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuv9bxAVRCQ&ab_channel=SNKOFFICIAL

And speaking of the season, those warm winter months will see the return of KoF XIV debutantes Najd and Sylvie Paula Paula. Najd, as you might remember, was the winning entry in a "Design a Character" competition held by SNK back in 2018. As such, to see the mysterious vigilante make their return pays tribute to their designer, artist Mashael Al-Barrak. The absolute MENACE Sylvie Paula Paula is an incredibly loud, boisterous, and colorful NESTS operative, whose obnoxiously cutesy ways and dop??ey visage belies ??a dangerous killer instinct and literally electrifying fighting skills.

Honestly? Stoked to see her again.

Two further characters will launch ??in Fall and Winter 2023, respectively, to round out Season 2.

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox Se??ries ?X platforms.

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Get. in The Ring

SNK has offered up more information pertaining to the second season of its excellent team-scrapper The King of Fighters XV �From January 2023, new c??haracters, modes, and under-the-hood tech tweaks will begin a steady rollout across all platforms, bringing further excitement to one of the long-running franchise's best-ever entries.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCsTzOoWZZ0

Season 2 st??arts with the dawning of the new year, bringing with it a brand new character balance update and the first DLC fighter of season 2: Kyo Kusanagi fanboy and good-hearted goof Shingo Yabuki. As winter turns to spring, the?? taekwondo master and bringer of JUSTICE, Kim Kaphwan, will make his eagerly awaited return to the ring. Evildoers beware.

In addition, spring will see SNK launch an open beta test for its new crossplay functionality, allowing fighters to test their mettle across PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games Store platforms. Across the remainder of the year, fans can expect more characters and balance patches. This will hopefully keep fan fervor up for what has been a successful first year for The King of Fighters �easily the most relevant that a KoF title has bee?n on the global FGC stage in many years.

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayStation, Xbox? Series X, and?? PC platforms.

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Let's Get Ippon

SNK has announced the release date for the next team of DLC fighters headed toward its fab scrapper The King of Fighters XV �Team Samurai, consisting of Samurai Shodown stars Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and D?arli Dagger, will be available to download on PC and console platforms from October 4.

The new faction is, obviously, something of a crossover affair, and will see the SamSho posse step up to the plate against KoF's finest. I'm not 100% sure how Queensbury Rules Darli's enormous saw-sword is in a fistfight, but given that the KoF krew have literal superpowers, we can probably let it slide. While Haohmaru and Nakoruru are series veterans, this is only Darli's second gaming appearance, having made her debut in the ace 2019 Samurai Shodown release.

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

Team Samurai will represent the fourth batch of DLC characters to join KoF XV's enormous roster since the title's initial launch earlier this year. The next season, which will kick off in 2023, has already promised to bring about the return of some KoF veterans. These include Kyo Kusanagi's well-meaning protege Shingo Yabuki, and the honorable taekwondo expert and criminal reformer Kim Kaphwan. Given Street Fighter 6's imminent launch and its wickedly redesigned Juri, it looks like it is going to be a fine year for windy, billowing t??aekwondo pant??s.

The King of Fighters XV is available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox Series X platforms �Additionally, Samurai Shodown 2019 will receive a rollback netcode update next spring, which will hopefully bring about a re??surgence of interest in ??the solid, if misunderstood, fighting title.

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One more round for Street Fighter V

Without hyperbole, it's safe to say that Evo 2022 was a huge success �pe?rhaps one of the greatest editions of the Evolution Championship Series ever, in fact. Returning in a physical capacity for the first time in years, fighting game fans were treated to hundreds of exciting matchups, some quality presentation, a fistful of exciting reveals, updates, and announcements, and some amazing in-ring action.

And the good times are set to continue, as it has been officially announced that Evo will be returning not only to western shores in 2023, but also in the east, as Evo Japan makes its own grand stage return next spring. The Japanese iteration of the event will take place at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba, Tokyo, for the weekend of March 31 �April 2. While a full card is yet to be announced, Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, SNK's The King of Fighters XV, Bandai Namco's Tekken 7, and Capcom's Street Fighter V: Champion Edition are all confirmed to be in attendance.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9I0GG0UR-k

The appearance of SFV on the main card is something of a curiosity, given that Capcom is looking at a spring 2023 release for its successor, Street Fighter 6. The Industry's Chris Moyse is still betting on a February release, but one would imagine that such a launch date (March at the latest) would be just a tad too late to see the new fighter headline the Evo Japan card. Still, it's quite clear that Capcom will want SF6 out in plenty of time to qualify for next year's Evo USA, so the predicted ??date still stands.

Evo Japan will return in March 2023. Be sure to check out all of the fighting game headlines from the past weekend over in our round-up guide right here.

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Alright for Fighting

It's fair to say that the Evolution Championship Series, more commonly known as "Evo," returned in grand style this weekend. Evo 2022 saw Guilty Gear Strive, Street Fighter V, DNF Duel, Dragon Ball FighterZ, The King of Fighters XV, MultiVersus, and many, many other scrappers take to the stage and stream in global fashion, as players from all over the world gathered at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in their respective efforts to lay claim to being The Best?? of The Best.

And, against the backdrop of this utterly electrifying cacophony of violence, the big?gest fighting game developers and publishers also took the opportunity to share with their fans exciting news, details, and upda?tes pertaining to their current, upcoming, and (in some cases), former fighting game releases.

And so, for those of you who couldn't quite handle the red eyes of staying up until the wee ho??urs of the morning, here's a brief rundown of all of the fi?ghting game news from this year's tournament, which saw a veritable banquet of character reveals, tech upgrades, new releases, and obscure teasers to keep the fists 'n' feet flying well into 2023 and beyond.

//twitter.com/EVO/status/1556548098335424515?s=20&t=F83Jnv7lbN2zIK?-WF8JZNg

Guilty Gear Strive:

Yo-yo master and all-around cutie-pie Bridget will return today, August 8, as the first season 2 DLC character. The crossplay beta is? scheduled for September, with a launch tentatively planned for late 2022.

Developer Arc System Works is currently looking into reducing both the lengthy load times and the particularly frustrating server connection times on startup. In addition, GG Strive has surpassed the one million sales mark. You can check out the roadmap for season 2 here.

Street Fighter:

Capcom dropped an official reveal for veteran troublemaker Juri and newcomer Kimberly, who are both getting into gear for 2023 release Street Fighter 6. Check out their new trailer right here. We will be looking at these ch??aracters later t?oday.

SNK:

The legendary arcade developer perhaps had the biggest and most exciting bevy of updates for its Evo 2022 presentation. Regarding The King of Fighters XV, SNK confirmed a second season of DLC for 2023, revealing a new team of characters from Samurai Shodown. Speaking of which, it was also revealed that SamSho itself will be receiving a rollback netcode update in spring 2023, which will hopefully brea?the new life into a great, undersung fighter.

SNK announced that is working on a brand new Fatal Dury/Garou title, but no other info was revealed.

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

Tekken:

In a somewhat confusingly presented reveal at the end of the Evo 2022 Tekken 7 finals, Bandai Namco announced that the 3D fighter would be receiving a new tournament season in 2023, with a brand new balance update planned for August 17. A teaser, spotlighting a gorgeous new Kazuya Mishima model, seemed to be announcing... something. A lack of concrete confirmation, complete with a very confusing commentator response, has led to muddled community musings on whether this was Tekken 8, a Tekken 1 remaster, or something else entirely.

Dragon Ball FighterZ:

Not a whole lot to report for Ar??c System Works' brilliant, long-life tag fighter. Fans did not go away empty-handed, however, as it was announced that rollback netcode would?? be heading to the anime fighter in the near future. The update will launch on PC, alongside all-new PS5 and Xbox Series X ports of the game, while PS4 and Xbox One fans should stay tuned for further announcements.

It was also announced that Lab Coat 21 is definitely the final DBFZ character. In addition, there will be no more balance updates going forward. DBFZ is, in essence, "complete".

Skullgirls: 2nd Encore:

Speaking on long-life fighters, Autumn Games' Skullgirls: 2nd Encore had a marvelous weekend, with lots of eyes on the stylish, enduring 2D fighter. Alongside new footage of the incoming Blach Dahlia, it was revealed that Skullgirls' all-powerful boss character, Marie, will finally be making her grand debut as a playable character on PC, console, and mobile? platfor??ms in 2023.

Melty Blood: Type Lumina:

Following the recent tease of new DLC characters Mash Kyrielight and Neco-Arc, Melty Blood director Kamone Serizawa released a six-minute video offering up further detail and explanation in regards to the Tsukihime fighter's upcoming mechanic changes, balance tweaks, and gameplay overhauls. These include a reworking of the Shield system, as well as changes to Dashes, Moon Drive, and combo mechanics. In addition, the dev team is looking into netcode ??improvements and an updated Replay function. You can check out the full video below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef1aXVm8d8Q

MultiVersus:

At Evo 2022, Player First Games revealed a couple of neat tidbits for the upcoming platform fighter, announcing that Ranked Mode will officially launch in the delayed Season One update. In addition, two new DLC costumes were revealed, restyling LeBron and DC Comics hero Robin, and Bugs Bunny in his legendary Valkyrie costume from the award-winning short, What's Opera, Doc?

A reschedu?led date for season one remains unannounced.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax:

The re-release of Atlus' very flashy anime fighter has received a rollback netcode update. It is available to download right now on PS4 and PC. This will come as a huge relief to P4A fans, as Atlus had previously seemed a little disinterested in the idea of impl?ementing the much-vaunted online technology.

//twitter.com/RareBreedMG/status/1555673768533536768?s=20&t=rTS??xWFZ9uehgbzxSZo7dBw

Blazing Strike:

AkSys Games' retro-infused 2D fighter Blazing Strike h??as been hit with an unfortunate delay and will no longer meet its previously announced 2022 street date.

"It’s gut-wrenching to admit but Blazing Strike‘s release date has been moved back to spring 2023," tweeted developer RareBreed Makes Games. "However this delay will help polish the game to ensure the best game experience possible (maybe with cross-play)??, so I really hope you guys stick around a little longer."

Blazing Strike will now launch ??in spring 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and ?Nintendo Switch.

Arcade 1UP:

The retro arcade cab developer announced its newest incoming cabinet, which celebrates Capcom's legendary 2000 release Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. The new cab, which will be ??able to pre-order from Arcade 1Up from September 8, will feature a grand total of eight Marvel/Capcom fighters from the '90s and '00?s.

Evo Japan will ??take plac?e in Tokyo from March 31-April 2, 2023. Evo will return in summer 2023.

The post Here are all of the re?veals, headlines, and updates from EVO 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

"Stop typing Fatal Furries," he yelled at himself

Evo 2022 marks the first time I've actually sat down and watched every Top 8 in the tournament, and I have to say that, besides the dullness of Robocop vs. Robocop in Mortal Kombat 11, this year has been tremendous to watch. Several of these Grand Finales have been pretty damn epic. I've been enthralled watching these professional fighters show just what is possible with complete mastery of these fighting games. Unfortunately, blockbuster announcements out of Evo have been pretty scarce this year. The reveal of Marie as a playable character in Skullgirls 2nd Encore kicked things off right, but Saturday was mostly quiet on this front. Leave it to Sunday's King of Fighters XV Top 8 to turn things around. We got a bevy of announcements following the Grand Finale, including the confirmation of a new Fatal Fury/Garou.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YP3wVygHLg

There's not much to go on there, but hey, it's just great to know that this is in development. It has been quite some time since SNK has taken a turn with this series. The last original Fatal Fury/Garou game released in 1999. No release date or platforms were? given, ?but I can only assume this game will be the highlight of a future Evo tournament.

Outside of that news, SNK also revealed what's coming next to its current hit fighter. Team Awakening Orochi, consisting of Orochi Yashiro, Orochi Shermie, and Orochi Chris, arrives tomorrow, August 8, for the King of Fighters XV. This autumn, the fourth team of DLC characters will arrive for the game as a crossover with the Samurai Shodown franchise. Hao??hmaru, Darli Dagger, and Nakoruru will make up Team Samurai. To top it all off, a second season of DLC was announced for 2023 that will include Shingo Yabuki and Kim Kaphwan as well as crossplay between platforms.

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

Some other announcements out of Evo 2022 include the addition of rollback netcode to Dragon Ball FighterZ, which is great because I want that game to have a long, long life in the competitive scene. It's too much of a joy to watch for it to not be on the main stage. Rollback netcode is also coming to Samurai Shodown next year.

The post New Fatal Fury highlights SNK’s Evo 2022 announcements appeared first on Destructoid.

Strive, Street Fighter, Tekken, and The King of Fighters will fill the Sunday finals

The Evolution Championship Series, a.k.a. Evo, has released?? its final registration tally. The final numbers for each game, as well as which four make it into the Evo 2022 arena finals on Sunday, are now locked in.

Registration closed last week, with nine games in the main Evo 2022 lineup: Street Fighter V, Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7, The King of Fighters XV, Melty Blood Type Lumina, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Granblue Fantasy Versus, and Skullgirls.

In the final tally, Guilty Gear Strive took the top spot at Evo 2022. The latest entry in Arc System Works' fighting game series raked i??n a whopping 2,161 registered combatants.

Joining Strive for the Sunday finals are two fairly presumptive games, Street Fighter V and Tekken 7. The latest King of Fighters takes?? the fourth spot?, with 1,014 entrants registered to compete.

//twitter.com/EVO/status/1549127118356873216

While those four will be featured in the arena finals, all nine games are part of the Evo 2022 main stage lineup. Of course, if you prefer some of the more niche and rare tournaments, there are always side events. Everything from Them's Fightin' Herds and Soulcalibur to Catherine can usually find a spot to compete.

The true king of fighters

Evo 2022 will be a big year for Evo, as it returns under new ownership. While there has been Evo Online, this will be the first in-person Evo since the tournament series was jointly acquired by Sony and RTS.

So far, that hasn't meant much has changed. Super Smash Bros. will not be part of the main game lineup this year, though the statement read like that was Nintendo's choice.

Street Fighter 6 will, however, be on display and open for competitors to test out. I'm personal??ly hoping there's a way t??o catch some show matches or something during the weekend. We can probably expect some fighting game news that weekend too, as is tradition.

Evo 2022 will run from August 5 through 7 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay re??sort.

The post Evo 2022 locks in its arena finals lineup appeared first on Destructoid.

Adequately Prepared to Rock

The organizers of the Evolution Championship Series 2022 (EVO) have released an in-progress breakdown of this year's game popularity. The Top 10, listed in order of competitor entries, currently sees Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive in the lead as the m?ost-entered title of the main tourn??ies.

As EVO returns as an offline event for the first time in two years, the organizers have decided that the schedule will be dictated by the popularity of the games on deck. So while Capcom's Street Fighter has long been the grand finale of the weekend, we could actually see something new round out the weekend's festivities �provided, of course, that Guilty Gear Strive, Tekken 7, or any ot?her re??lease is able to pull in the most players.

You can check out the nine? main games and their popularity (as of April 16) in the tweet below.

//twitter.com/EVO/status/1515396124684668931?s=20&t=GU?gTtw_lAwQZL3umk3_k4w

Following on from Guilty Gear Strive's top spot, a very impressive showing is being put in by SNK's The King of Fighters XV, which currently sits at number three, even ahead of Bandai Namco tournament mainstay Tekken 7. The King of Fighters, while often in a?ttendance, is rarely one of?? EVO's most popular franchises, and getting the spotlight on the team-based fighter could really help draw in new players and cement its status.

NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 11 currently sits at number eight, behind niche anime fighter Melty Blood: Type Lumina and ArcSys' Granblue Fantasy: Versus. This is perhaps reflective of NRS' decision to call an end to supporting the title once it had ensured that all DLC had hit the market. While this would cause an expected drop-off for MK, seeing it resting behind cult anime scrappers and games that are years older (such as Bandai Namco's Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ) is still surprising.

Fighting the good fight in ninth place is Autumn Games' excellent tag fighter Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, which continues to entertain hardened fighting game players with its divine visuals, an awesome score, and intense gameplay. With more updates and characters on the horizon, the cartoonish classic looks set to run and r??un into 2023.?? Kudos.

Evo 2022 takes place August 5-7 at the Las?? Vegas?? Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

The post Guilty Gear Strive is currently leading the herd of EVO 2022 ent?rants appeared first on Destructoid.

Long Live the King

There is no fighting game franchise I've spent more time playing than The King of Fighters.

If you tally up the hours, the purchases, the import miles, and the sackfuls of 20p pieces, SNK's team-based slugfest has swallowed up more days, weeks, months, and years of my life than any other fighter... Any other game? Quite possibly.

I became enamored with the legendary fight franchise back in 1994. Its crossover concept, when Super Smash Bros. was but a twinkle in Nintendo's eye, was so damn exciting. By the time the series had introduced annual updates, custom team builds, and awesome original characters, (including my long-time muse, Leona Heidern), I was already hooked, whether battling on an imported Sega Saturn, a hazardously cobbled-together Supergun, or the roughshod MVS cabinet nestled snugly in my college's cafeteria. Hell, I've even played KoF on three separate continents. ??Good. Fuck??ing. Times.

KoF sure doesn't look like it used to. We don't open with the "100 Meg Shock!" jingle anymore, and the market it finds itself in is as competitive today as it has been in 20 years. But, with The King of Fighters XV, SNK is putting all of its chips on the table in an all-out effort to please the veteran KoF community, build a fresh competitive s??cene, and attract a plethora of new players to its star-studded battle royale.

So, ain't no??thing to it but to do i??t... Select The Order.

The King of Fighters XV (PlayStation [PS5 reviewed], PC, Xbox)
Developer: SNK
Publisher: SNK / Koch Media
Released: February 17, 2022
MSRP: $59.99

The King of Fighters XV is the catalyst for decades of SNK fighting titles, an attempt to bring together the entire heritage of the KoF series for one almighty release. While not a "Dream Match" title, (such as previous releases KoF '98 and KoF '02), KoF XV nevertheless feels like a "Best Of" offering, sporting arguably the greatest roster ever assembled for a canon release. The new entry holds the KoF se??ries' legacy in great reverence, while making efforts to contemporize itself for modern fighting game ??players.

KoF XV does a fantastic job of retaining the speed, weight, pace, and overall "feel" classic King of Fighters, despite its different baseline engine and visual style. Veterans will be pleased to see the return of the series' four-button control scheme, along with time-honored mechanics such as evasive roll, Blow-Back, dashing, hyper-hops, and the devastating MAX mechanic. While KoF XIV is a title I did not delve too deeply into, I found myself immediately at home with KoF XV's controls and dynamic. L??ike riding a bike that's punching me in th?e face. Go with it.

New to the party is the Shatter Strike, which trades meter for a hefty single blow. I have previously likened this to Street Fighter IV's Focus Attack, putting its victim in a defenseless crumple state. Blow Back can still be activated from block, providing a useful combo breaker while propelling the opponent a good distance for that all-important reset. EX moves, Supers, MAX Supers, and the fantastically cinematic Climax Supers; KoF XV is packed with meter-eating mechanics. Add cancels, Super Cancels, and Climax Cancels to the mix, and y??ou have an impressively deep combat system, requiring some of the most complex and efficient meter management in the current fighting game scene.

//youtu.be/_o7Ip64-Sio

However, as much as this is a boon for expert KoF players, it also works somewhat against SNK's hopes of roping in newbies. In an era when the notoriously complex Guilty Gear chose to strip back its difficulty and tight input restrictions for Guilty Gear Strive, KoF XV retai??ns its hefty learning curve, tight input windows, and plethora of movement mechanics, potentially warding off fresh meat.

Thankfully, the "Rush" system should help starters find their footing. Rush allows players to activate simplistic auto-combos into Supers with a few simple button presses. When first starting out, Rush can help players understand the pace and flow of KoF, while also dropping endorphin-releasing strings of attacks. Elitists may scoff at the very concept of Rush, but for getting players up-??and-running, it's an important mechanic. We need to kick that front gate wide open, not deadbolt it.

As a brief summary for a complex subject: KoF XV is a solid, tight, and incredibly exciting fighting game. It sports a stacked and unique roster of characters, a litany of offensive and defensive mechanics, and is loade?d with complexities and potential �but in regards to welcoming players, it's still something of a matter of "trial by fire", despite its best efforts to onboard newcomers.

Ever since the franchise transitioned to 2.5D, KoF's biggest fight has been with the fans, many of whom are disappointed with SNK's move away from pixelated visuals. One can hardly blame the naysayers, KoF XIII was, quite simply, one of the greatest looking fighting games of all time. But in an age of Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, and Tekken 7, and with the company coffers running low, SNK chose to pull the plug on its expensive legacy looks, replacing its hand-drawn sprites with more easily produced 3D models.

There's no denying that KoF XV's character models have received a major polish from KoF XIV. Everybody looks sharper and better-textured. Bright colors pop and animations flow smoothly, though there's an admitted awkwardness to certain walk cycles, which can be reminiscent of skating (and I'm not just talking about ice-loli Kula). The new character models �such as the mysterious Dolores and the returning Elizabeth Blanchtorche �are excellent, while the boss characters are among the series' most ambitious designs in years. In general, characters created specifically for KoF XV look fantastic, while returnees from KoF XIV simply sport impressive "digital facelifts".

One element in which The King of Fighters stands far and ahead of its contemporaries is in its gorgeous visual effects. From the luscious emerald flames of Ash Crimson, to the iridescent rainbow glow of Elizabeth's air-slicing abilities, KoF XV has d??azzling specials and characterful supers. Hardly the most important element of a fighter, but it sure helps add to the hype.

It's unlikely that the call for KoF to return to its traditional style will ever cease. Hell, I'd love to see this here roster recreated in KoF XIII's beautiful hand-drawn visuals. It simply isn't going to happen, and while that is a disappointment, it's unfair to bitterly state that King of Fighters XV looks bad. It looks different, sure, but it looks great.

Part of the fun with KoF is checking out who fits best into your dream trio. With KoF XV's huge variety of strikers, zone??rs, grapplers, and rushdown experts �all sporting distinctive looks and personalities �there is a lot of enjoyment to be had meeting the 39-strong roster. A deep training mode offers all of the tools expected from any modern fighter, while a slim but challenging trial mode sets up a handful of technical combos for each character on the roster.

The Story Mode �quite heavily hyped by SNK marketing �is a bit of a bust, offering little more than a few CGI sequences peppered between what is, effectively, a stan?dard Arcade Mode. Ad??ditionally, the narrative itself is blah, essentially a retread of the Orochi Saga with Shun'ei, Isla, and Dolores playing Kyo, Iori, and Chizuru respectively. On the brighter side, each team has its own custom end sequence, while special custom teams unlock artworks and other fun extras. But, for the most part, KoF XV is relatively thin on single-player content.

One of KoF XV's raddest features is the DJ Station, which I'm now demanding for all fighting games. This mode allows the player to customize the entire soundtrack of KoF XV, picking from hundreds of tracks from the entire franchise and other SNK releases such as Metal Slug and Samurai Shodown. Want the KoF XV Pao Pao Cafe to have the Pao Pao theme from KoF '94? You can. Want the character select screen to have the awesome character select theme from KoF XIII? You got it. Once the alternative OSTs ??scores are unlocked (via story mode wins) you can custom??ize the entire soundtrack to your liking.

Bring back that ear-ripp??ing Neo Geo synth! Sounds great and also Ow!

Competitive players will be pleased to hear that KoF XV has a range of tools to make for easy setup of tournaments. Players can auto-save up to 15 custom teams, along with setting up brackets and rulesets, registering player names, and even changing in??-gam??e billboards to sport the name of your tournament or scene! Very cool. Ranked, Casual, and Lobby matches are all supported for online play, with online training and sparring also available while you wait in line to get your ass handed to you.

I was unable at press time to experience KoF XV's online modes, which sports the much-vaunted rollback netcode. I played the most recent KoF XV beta for an entire weekend and found that, for the most part, my online experience was slick, responsive, and l??ag-free. This is provided I faced opponents sporting Lvl.4-5 connections. Lvl.3 connections were a dice roll. Lower levels featured frustrating input delay, though there is an input deficit option for such encounters.

I will update this rev?iew in a week's time with my post-launch experience of the full release.

The King of Fighters, despite its legacy in the pantheon of fighting games, has always been an underdog. It was back in 1994, and it still is in 2022. With The King of Fighters XV, SNK has taken bold strides to punch thro?ugh that ceiling, with a notable effort to produce the biggest release in the franchise's history. As to whether the new title will have what it takes to go global, pull in fresh audiences, or blow up the competitive scene... Well, that's another matter.

If KoF XV builds a strong online presence, powered by reliable netcode, a dedicated player base, and generous support from SNK, then there's no reason that it can't find its niche amongst other fighters of the ninth generation. The King of Fighters is literally titled after royalty, and, some 30 years later, it's h??igh time that it started li?ving up to its moniker.

The King of Fighters XV represents SNK's strongest efforts to reignite the flames of its most prestigious franchise. With fantastic fighting action, a compelling roster, splendid visuals, and revamped online options, KoF XV is a treat for?? both series veterans and the fighting game community at large, though ??newcomers may still find themselves dizzied by its myriad mechanics and steep learning curve.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: The King of Fighters XV appeared first on Destructoid.

Choose Your Fighter

It's been such a long time coming, but we are finally just over a week away from the launch of SNK's newest entry to the KoF franchise, The King of Fighters XV �/em> To help keep the flames of hype burning high, the developer released a slick anime short showcasing memb??ers of ??the game's 39-strong roster.