Fans of SNK's long-running fighting series have been waiting patiently to learn when and on what they will be able to play King of Fighters 15. The studio provided the first answer earlier in 2021 when it confirmed the game would be releasing during the first quarter of 2022 due to production delays in Japan. Fans now know what platforms the game will be available on as SNK's latest game will be cross-gen at release.
The King of Fighters 15 is the first mainline release in the series since King of Fighters 14 released on PS4 and PC in 2016. It will retain the competitive, 2D-style gameplay associated with the series since the original game released back in 1994. The game will also feature a roster of familiar fighters including series mainstays like Terry Bogard and Joe Higashi making up the various teams participating within the game's titular tournament. Series regular and Team Secret Agent member Vanessa was the latest character confirmed to be returning in the 2022 entry.
SNK confirmed King of Fighters 15 will be a cross generational game in a Twitter post on the SNK Global account. The game will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S owners to enjoy when it drops in early 2022. SNK isn't going to be shy on PC, either, as it will be available to purchase on the Epic Games Store, Steam, and Windows 10 at release.
The game being cross-gen will likely be seen as a welcome relief to fans on PS4 and Xbox One who have been unable to get their hands on a Xbox Series X or PS5. The question then becomes if SNK will offer cross-gen play for fans playing within the same console family. Unlike previous generations, cross-gen play has been a more common feature for several major titles, including fellow fighter Mortal Kombat 11 and the upcoming Battlefield 6, further breaking down generational barriers.
It would also make sense for SNK to take advantage of any and all platforms available for King of Fighters to release on while the older systems remain relevant. This is common during the first few years of a new console generation as not every console owner will have upgraded right at launch. However, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 launches have the added wrinkle of the coronavirus pandemic, which has drastically impacted availability. Both next-gen consoles have sold very well since launch, but demand remains high to the point little to no physical stock has been in available in stores.
King of Fighters 15 will be available on the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Windows 10, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S during Q1 2022.