The King of Fighters XIV will launch on PlayStation 4 in the U.S. on August 23, SNK has announced.
This latest entry in the venerable fighting game franchise will marry 3D characters with 2D battle arenas, much like Street Fighter IV. The gameplay has seen some notable tweaks however, with Hyper Drive being replaced by an updated Max Mode from earlier games in the series.
SNK Playmore has attempted to ensure things are less intimidating for King of Fighters newcomers with the addition of the automatic and simplified Rush Combo mechanic. So, if you’re new to the franchise, don’t panic; you’ll be able to learn the ropes easy enough while the game eases you into the action.
The King of Fighters franchise originally debuted some 22 years ago with the launch of The King of Fighters ’94 in arcades. In addition to the long-running video game series, the brand has spawned numerous multimedia releases, such as a manga, short animation series, live-action film and CD soundtracks.
Interestingly, it’s been six years since the last instalment in the series, The King of Fighters XIII, marking the biggest hiatus in the franchise’s history.
Check out a trailer for The King of Fighters XIV below.