As the next generation of consoles gets closer and closer, Microsoft has already decided to reveal a couple of games that will be available on the Xbox Series X's release. Halo Infinite and the Hellblade sequel have been announced for the upcoming system, but there are still plenty of potential titles being rumored, including a brand new Killer Instinct.
2013's Killer Instinct is the third title in the long dormant fighting franchise and features a truly unique cast of fighters, including one of the best boxers in video games. Unfortunately for fans of the game, it seems the rumors of a follow-up title have now been disconfirmed.
As fans may remember, the free-to-play reboot of the Killer Instinct series was one of the exclusive launch titles for the Xbox One, making it one of the first big reasons to buy the console. It seems this has led some fans to believe that Microsoft might team up with Rare once again to develop a sequel to coincide with the release of the upcoming Xbox Series X. It's also very likely that this rumor may be fueled by fans who want to see something new from this fighting franchise, as nothing has happened since the game's third season ended back in 2016. Unfortunately, it seems fans will have to keep on waiting.
Iron Galaxy developer Adam Heart confirmed on Twitter that the studios' next game won't be a Killer Instinct title. In fact, Heart admitted that there is still a lot of work left to do on the game they are developing, so it's possible it won't release on launch or even this year. For those who don't remember, the game was originally developed by Double Helix Games under Rare's supervision, but was replaced by Iron Galaxy for season 2 and season 3 of Killer Instinct once that developer was acquired by Amazon. It's possible Rare could've gotten a different developer to work on a next-gen Killer Instinct title, but the chances of this potential game being a launch title are very slim.
Of course, not working on Killer Instinct doesn't mean Rare isn't developing anything new. Back during November's Inside Xbox show, Microsoft revealed that some of their biggest studios were working on new games, including Rare. Details on this brand new IP--Everwild--remain scarce, but studio head Craig Duncan said it will allow players to "play in a natural and magical world." More details on this game should surface in the future.
Microsoft's other big studio, Obsidian, is also working on a new game. The studio known for such titles as The Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity is working on Grounded, a cooperative survival game with a focus on environmental storytelling. Grounded will be released on the Xbox Game Preview and Game Pass in spring 2020.
Killer Instinct is currently available on PC and Xbox One. The Xbox Series X is scheduled for release in late 2020.
Source: Adam Heart/Twitter