Fighters all around the world are taking center stage at the largest martial arts tournament, as the 15th and latest installation to the King of Fighters (KOF) saga is soon to be released. A renowned versus fighter game developed by SNK, KOF XV takes place after the events of its predecessor KOF XIV. New threats and stormy days lie ahead, featuring deceased fighters that have revived to new challengers trying to understand just what powers they hold. Here, we lay out the release date for King of Fighters XV and explore what we know so far about the upcoming KOF title.

King of Fighters XV Release Date: February 17, 2022

King of Fighters XV will be coming out on February 17, 2022 on PC (Steam or Microsoft store), PlayStation4, PlayStation5, and Xbox Series X|S. The upcoming title will be the first KOF game to use Unreal Engine 4. This game engine can help support better graphics and smoother performance. Additionally, KOF XV will offer crossplatform play between the PS4 and PS5.

KOF XV focuses on Shun'ei and Isla, fighters on rival teams who both harbor mysterious supernatural powers that resemble the abilities of Verse, the antagonist in KOF XIV. In the predecessor, Verse brought forth much mayhem to the tournaments, reviving dead fighters and destroying the KOF arena. In the latest King of Fighters, Chizuru Kagura senses something is interfering with the seal of Orochi, a snake demon. She enlists the help of fighters Kyo Kusanagi and Ioi Yagami to investigate these unusual happenings.

The fighting system in KOF XV involves team-on-team combat with three members apiece. Each team consists of three roles—Point, Middle, and Anchor. Players can adjust their role assignments in the middle of fights to glean a strategic advantage over opponents. Hitting the Rush button, first introduced in KOF 14, can also help newer players with performing combos and special moves. The game also has several online modes, such as Ranked and Casual Matches.

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As for the Shatter Strike mechanic, fighters can unleash stronger moves when their power gauges are full. This stuns the opponent and provides a leeway to seize the victory, best used as a defensive or counter-attacking option. Another feature is the MAX mode, which gives the fighters increased attack and Guard Crush strength. Meanwhile, activating MAX Mode upon landing a regular attack or command move triggers MAX Mode (Quick). This allows players to combo immediately into the next action.

The fighting mechanics are really the highlight of the game, and long-time fans of the saga will be eager to test their metal once again at the KOF arena when King of Fighters XV is released.