Latest revision as of 02:57, 26 January 2024

Position in the series	Saga/Story Arc	Chapter	Is it canonical?
15th	KOF XIV & XV Arc new age saga	2nd	Yes

The King of Fighters XV
Main key visual, showing Shun'ei, the Sacred Treasures Team, K', Ash, Heidern and the two female newcomers. Illustration by Ogura
Statistics
Release date	February 17, 2022
Genre	Versus Fighting game
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S & Microsoft Windows
Game mode	Arcade Versus Online Battle
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Previous	The King of Fighters XIV
Next	―

"Shatter All Expectations."

- Tagline

The King of Fighters XV, officially abbreviated as KOF XV is a upcoming fifteenth installment of The King of Fighters series. It was officially announced at EVO 2019 and was originally slated for release in 2020.^[1] However, the date was postponed to 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic. More details would be revealed in January 7, 2021^[2]. In June, SNK announced that the game had been postponed once again and will be released in the first quarter of 2022, due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and the state of emergency in Japan.^[3] The game will be released for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 10, Steam and Epic Games. It is currently not known if the game will have crossplay or not.^[4] The game is the first of the series to have rollback netcode.

This game is the second chapter of the fourth canonical saga for the series, and is the second SNK game to use the Unreal Engine graphic motor (Unreal Engine 4), the first being Samurai Shodown (2019). Yasuyuki Oda (Garou: Mark of the Wolves and The King of Fighters XIV) is the producer, Eisuke Ogura is the creative director and Tomohiro Nakata (The King of Fighters All Star) is the main illustrator.

The promotion of the game is through trailers that were, initially weekly, but with the postponement of the game, they became biweekly. Starting with the 11th trailer (Yashiro's Reveal Trailer), the company reveals silhouettes of the next characters to be confirmed.

Story[]

Only the world's toughest fighters can duke it out in the largest martial arts tournament in the world.

Though a mysterious being called Verse destroyed the KOF arena, its threat was quelled thanks to the brave efforts of the winning challengers.

Time has passed since the closing of that tumultuous tournament, and the next KOF begins, backed by a new sponsor.

Meanwhile, Chizuru Kagura senses something interfering with the seal of Orochi, otherwise known as Gaia's Will.

She teams up with Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami to join the KOF and investigate.

Amidst these myriad motives, fighters resurrected after Verse's defeat also join the fray.

Once again, a storm is on the horizon...

Development[]

Kofxviorivsyashiro — Gameplay of Iori vs. Yashiro

Due to positive response to the marketing of The King of Fighters XIV, director Yasuyuki Oda said in August 2017 that The King of Fighters XV was possible, but SNK also wanted to focus on other franchises. Oda, instead, worked in the spin-off, SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy, a female character-driven fighting game and a spiritual sequel of SNK Gals' Fighters. In December 2018, SNK revealed the company was working on The King of Fighters XV, aiming to release it during 2020. Feeling the previous title had outdated graphics for a 2016 game, SNK chairman Zhihui Ge said that XV will use the Unreal Engine 4 graphic motor to provide a better presentation.

Kofshuneivsmeitenkun — Shun'ei, about to apply his new climax in Meitenkun.

At the finals of EVO 2019, SNK announced that the game was in development. The title's creative director is Eisuke Ogura, who has previously worked as an artist on the series, beginning with The King of Fighters 2001. Most notably, he served as the main illustrator for The King of Fighters XIII and XIV. The director of The King of Fighters XIV, Yasuyuki Oda, will serve as the title's producer. The character design is being handled by Tomohiro Nakata, which also worked on The King of Fighters All Star.

Gameplay[]

Some game modes present in the previous game reappears in this game. One of the new modes added is the SHATTER STRIKER, that consists in defend and counter against any opponent. Beside that, there is the addition of a new versus mode: the DRAFT, in which the player does not use all the characters chosen by him.

Confirmed Teams & Characters (Until Now)[]

Overview[]

KOF XV keeps the voice actors for characters returning from The King of Fighters XIV (between veterans and debutants). For characters that weren't in the previous game, some voice actors from KOF All Star return to voice their respective characters with the exception of Chris, a member of the Orochi Team, who has a different voice actress than the one from the mobile game.

This game also has a profound change in teams compared to KOF XIV. The new team formations are as follows:

	At the request of his old friend Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido is tasked to watch over the series' new protagonists Shun'ei and Meitenkun. As a result, he leaves the Japan Team and replaces the old master Tung Fu Rue. The three form the Fourth Saga's Hero Team, renaming China Team moniker into a team named after Shun'ei, due to the younger model and fighter's nationality.
	The Sacred Treasures Team (which was once a special edit-based team in their three previous canonical appearances (four if counting the dream match KOF '98/UM) is now an official and regular team. As a result, Kyo Kusanagi undoes the Japan Team, Chizuru Kagura comes back to the series after an 18 years, and Iori Yagami disbands his namesake team. This is also the second time that the clan rivals Kyo and Iori have joined together in an official team, the first time being The King of Fighters XI.
	The Orochi Team (formerly known as the New Faces Team) make their official canonical 24 years (25 if counting the game's release) after their last appearances in a canonical game (and 19 years since their last appearance in a mainline game of the series [20 if counting the game's release]). The team appears after being revived at the end of KOF XIV (with their resurrections confirmed by Shermie's presence in SNK Heroines).
	After receiving an invitation from Ryo Sakazaki, King leaves the Women Fighters Team after 12 years, and replaces Yuri Sakazaki in the Art of Fighting Team. This is the third time that the French bartender joins with the classic team (the other times being 2000 and XI), and the second time accompanying both Ryo and Robert Garcia (the first was only in 2000, along with Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo's father and Robert's master).
	After leaving the Kim Team, Luong seemingly starts working in opposition to her lover Gang-il and his disciple Kim Kaphwan, by joining the Secret Agent Team with the freelancer agents Vanessa and Blue Mary.
	Although first appearing in non-canonical team combinations under other names, a new variant of the Super Heroine Team, makes its debut in this game. As a result, Athena Asamiya leaves the Psycho Soldier Team after 6 years, and joins with Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki (who leaves the Art of Fighting Team, and being replaced by King for the second time). This is the second game that Athena appears in other team, being the first The King of Fighters 2003.
	A brand-new team formation that made its first debut in this game, with the sub-boss of The King of Fighters XIV, Antonov, tooking command over the original Mexican Team, and forming a second Team Wrestler, known as Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team, and better known as the G.A.W. Team. As a result, the Mexico Team is officially undone, and Angel leaves the team, getting Ramon and King of Dinosaurs to join alongside the ex-milionaire.
	A new formation of the classic Team Rival is composed by Isla (Shun'ei rival), the medium and hermit Dolores and Ikari Warriors leader Heidern. As a result, the Commander enters in a canonical team after 21 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
	The K' Team goes back to the classic trio formation after 19 years (and 20 years if counting the first mainline appearance of the team). As a result, Kula Diamond left the team after 17 years, being replaced by Whip.
	To differentiate themselves from being called the NESTS Team since the downfall of the cartel 21 years ago (and 20 years ago, prior to the game's remake) and their status of them no longer its active operatives, a new team formation is composed by its leader, the newcomer Krohnen, accompanied by other ex-NESTS agents, Angel and Kula Diamond, with the last mentioned leaving the K' Team, due to a recent grudge between her and the leader of her old team. As another consequence, Angel leaves and undoes the Mexico Team, being replaced by Antonov. A new formation of the classic Krohnen Team.
	The Ash Team is reformed 17 years after his last formation, and occurs after the French boy's ressurection (due to the fact that he has erased himself from the existence). The new entry of this team is composed by Ash, the mysterious Kukri and the noblewoman Elisabeth Blanctorche. As a result, the boy returns to the series after 12 years and the sand manipulator leaves the Official Invitation Team (a team created by Antonov that still included the underground fighters Sylvie Paula Paula and Mian) after the previous tournament.
	Both the Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors teams remain unchanged from their formation in the previous tournament (with their classic team formations since '94 and '96 respectively).

Confirmed Characters[]

Teams confirmed until the current moment.

Hero Team (A.K.A. Shun'ei Team)[]

Sacred Treasures Team[]

Fatal Fury Team (A.K.A. Garou Densetsu Team)[]

Orochi Team (Former New Faces Team)[]

Art of Fighting Team (A.K.A. Ryuko no Ken Team)[]

Ikari Warriors Team (A.K.A. Ikari Team)[]

Secret Agents Team (A.K.A. New Agents Team)[]

Heroine Team (A.K.A. Super Heroines Team)[]

Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (A.K.A. G.A.W. Team)[]

Rival Team (A.K.A. Isla Team)[]

Isla
Dolores
Heidern

K' Team[]

Krohnen Team[]

Ash Team[]

Boss[]

TBA

DLC Teams[]

Teams released through DLC.

Garou Team[]

Haohmaru
Nakoruru
Darli Dagger

NPC Character[]

Clemence Bellamy (KOF Tournament Anchorman and Reporter)
Verse - in Story Mode

Stages Cameos[]

Fatal Fury series[]

Michael Max - in the Beach Resort Stage
Richard Meyer - in the Pao Pao Cafe Stage
Bob Wilson - in the Pao Pao Cafe Stage

3 Count Bout[]

Terry Rogers - in the KOF Stadium Stage
Master Barnes - in the KOF Stadium Stage

Metal Slug series[]

Hyakutaro Ichimonji (presumably, along with other POWs) - in the Sahara Stage
Rumi Aikawa - in the Sahara Stage
SV-001 - in the Sahara Stage
Super Vehicle "Camel" - in the Sahara Stage

Stages Revelead Until Now[]

Team Stages[]

Stage	Stage's Name	Team/Character	Description
China	Classic Chinese Garden	Hero Team	The Classical Gardens of Suzhou, in the Jiangsu province. The fight takes place in a red balcony in the Humble Administrator's Garden, at night. This stage features a giant dragon statue, inside, a small waterfall, in the right outside, the full moon, bonsai trees, aquatic flowers, flags, Chinese pillars and decorations, besides the Jinshan Temple in the background. Note: The dragon statue is very similar to the seen in Art of Fighting Team's stage in The King of Fighters '94 and The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match.
Japan	Esaka Construction Site	Sacred Treasures Team	The Japanese city of Osaka, at night. The fight takes place in the expansion site of the Esaka Station, next to the Hanshin Expressway. This stage features construction workers cheering, construction materials, barriers, backhoes, buildings, a teddy bear and a construction worker signs, besides the SNK's headquarters, in the background, Hiragana signs and a "The Esaka Station is closed for expansion" sign. The game series' name can be seen all over the stage. Stage reminiscent of The King of Fighters '94 (Japan Team's [A.K.A. Orochi Saga's Hero Team] stage).
USA	Beach Resort, Sunny Day (A.K.A. South Town Sound Beach)	Fatal Fury Team	The most famous beach of the American city, at a sunny day. The fight takes place next to the beach shops and to the entrance. The stage features a seafood restaurant, a surf shop with a mechanical shark sign, people cheering, parked bicycles, palm trees, the main church of the city, the tournament flags, a 4x4 car, balloons and a small ladder with a sun umbrella and a plaque with the sign WAVE SURF AREA, beside the South Town Bridge, in the background, and plaques with the signs PORT TOWN (Hon-Fu's stage in Fatal Fury 3) and CENTRAL CITY. Stage reminiscent of the first Fatal Fury game.
??	Concert Hall	Orochi Team	The fight takes place at a concert on the area of the main stage that has a checkered floor. This stage features the crowd cheering, screens (some showing the characters, other showing the game's name), stage structures, spotlights, sound boxes, a passageway and a band playing in the background, beside the game's logo in a big size. Note: The band used in this stage is composed by NPC characters reused from The King of Fighters XIV (Villains Team's Stage).
USA	Pao Pao Cafe	Art of Fighting Team	The Richard Meyer and Bob Wilson's classic bar at night. The fight takes in the main saloon. This stage features the main bar, the public watching the fight, some drum players and the bar's logo, in the right, beside some decorations resembling Mudman (World Heroes' character). Stage reminiscent of the first Fatal Fury game and Fatal Fury 3.
Egypt	The Sahara	Ikari Warriors Team	An oasis in the middle of the Egyptian desert. The fight takes next to a plane crash (General Donald Morden's M-32 Water Carrier Plane). The stage features palm trees, dunas, a pink sun umbrella, a wooden plaque with the name KOF and pennants (some with the series' logo), besides a teddy bear and stilts close to the plane's wreckage. Stage reminiscent of Metal Slug Infinity. Note: The stage includes numerous references to the Metal Slug series (the "Danger" barrels, the weapon crates, several POWs, the SV-001, and the Camel Slug).
France	Provence Main Street, Night	Secret Agents Team	The city of Paris, at night, in the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. The fight takes in the Place de la République, next to the statue of Marianne, a historical figure representing the July Revolution. The stage features water puddles, a few stray cats roaming around in front of the "Cafe des Chats" (The Cat Cafe in English) as well as a couple of cats roaming around the street with various buildings in the background. A famous Parisian cafe can also be seen: La maison des Délices (The House of Delights, in English). Similar to the Czech Republic Stage in The King of Fighters 2003 (Arcade Version).
France	Provence Main Street, Day	Super Heroines Team	This version of the stage occurs in a Saint Patrick's Day celebration. Features some people, flowers, light poles, vans (one of them parked on a tent) and pennants with France and Ireland flags. Beside that, the Marianne's statue is decorated with ribbons in the colors of the French flag, and the tournament's simbols can be seen all over the stage.
??	Hyper Galaxy Ring	Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team	The main arena of the tournament, at sunset. Features two giant screens showing the fighters who are fighting, a crown-shaped structure, the crowd (Clemence Bellamy in the middle), giant trophies in both sides, some KOF-girls holding plaques, spotlights, a passageway and a meshed wall separating the audience from the stage. Beside, the game's name and logos (KOF '96 and the previous tournament) can be seen all over the stage.

Other Confirmed Stages[]

Stage	Stage's Name	Team/Character	Description
??	Haunted Amusement Park (A.K.A. Dream Amusement Park) (Tentative Name)	TBA	An old abandoned amusement park, at night. This stage features decaying mascots and rides, although many of them appear to still function, a carousel, a haunted house, a Ferris wheel and a candy store, beside a castle and some buildings, in the background. Stage reminiscent of Art of Fighting 2 (King's stage) and similar to the Amusement Park in The King of Fighters '99: Evolution (Dreamcast's exclusive stage).
??	Beach Resort, Sunset	TBA	The same stage as the Fatal Fury Team, in depths of sunset. This version of the stage features the sun setting, the empty beach and two yachts in the middle of the sand. Similar to the USA Stage in Real Bout Fatal Fury Special. Note: The sails of the yachts show the date 1994-08-25, right below the main logo. This date is the Japanese arcade release date of KOF '94, the first game and the prologue of the series.
??	Winter Forest (Tentative Name)	TBA	TBA
??	Graffiti Wall (Tentative Name)	TBA	TBA
??	Training Stage	Random	A sparse arena used for training. The back wall is covered in white tiles whilst the floor is covered in grey tiles. There are several brown lines painted across the tiles, including vertically across the center, the left edge and the right edge, as well as horizontally across the floor; the combatants stand upon this horizontal line whilst fighting.

Gallery[]

Trailers[]

Teaser Trailers[]

Promotional trailers of the game.

The King of Fighters XV Official Teaser EVO 2019

JPN KOF XV Teaser Trailer

ENG KOF XV Teaser Trailer

KOF XV｜Teaser Trailer (short ver.)

KOF XV｜Official Trailer (4K)

KOF XV - Cinematic Teaser - China Joy 2021 (HD)

【日本語】KOF XV｜Official Trailer

【ENG】KOF XV｜Official Trailer

KOF XV - OBT and KOF Newcomer Dolores Trailer

KOF XV - 2nd OBT and KOF Newcomer KROHNEN Trailer

KOF XV - 2nd OBT - Climax Super Special Moves

KOF XV｜SPECIAL ANIMATED SHORT directed by MASAMI OBARI

【JPN】KOF XV｜Official Trailer｜好評発売中！

【ENG】KOF XV｜Official Trailer｜AVAILABLE NOW!

【ENG】KOF XV｜Launch Trailer - North America

【ENG】KOF XV - Accolade Trailer

KOF XV｜Main Theme｜NOW OR NEVER (Full)

KOF XV｜Ending Theme｜Here I Am (Full)

Individual Gameplay Trailers[]

Teamed Character Trailers[]

Characters with teams already revealed.

Hero Team[]

KOF XV｜SHUN'EI｜Character Trailer 1 (4K)

KOF XV｜MEITENKUN｜Character Trailer -2 (4K)

KOF XV｜BENIMARU NIKAIDO｜Character Trailer -3 (4K)