The King of Fighters XV

Lore & Background

The King of Fighters XV takes place after the events of KOF XIV, focusing on two fighters with multiverse-related supernatural powers, Shun'ei and Isla, among other returning heroes facing revived threats caused by Ash Crimson. The narrative involves a new tournament held after the defeat of Verse, with fighters drawn into conflicts involving Amp creatures and the goddess Otoma=Raga. The game includes 38 characters at launch (including the pre-order bonus character, but not counting boss characters), with additional downloadable content characters released in seasons, and features returning characters from KOF, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Shodown.

Reader's Guide

The King of Fighters XV is significant as a major entry in a long-running fighting game franchise, marking the series' transition to Unreal Engine 4 and the implementation of GGPO rollback networking for improved online play. The game received praise for its character roster, team-based gameplay, and smooth online performance, though it faced criticism for its small story mode, complex tutorials, and limited offline content. Its development was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the team aimed to stay true to the original team-based system while improving accessibility with features like the updated Rush system and Shatter Strike parry. The game's legacy includes its role in continuing the series' narrative and its technical advancements in online fighting game infrastructure.

Did You Know?

• The King of Fighters XV is the first game in the series to use Unreal Engine 4.
• It is the first KOF game to implement GGPO rollback networking.
• Omega Rugal and Goenitz were added as paid DLC or as part of a later update, not free at launch.
• The director, Kaito Soranaka, joined SNK in 2014 during development of KOF XIV.