The King of Fighters XV, officially abbreviated as KOF XV, is the fifteenth main installment of The King of Fighters series, released in February 17, 2022 for the consoles PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC through Steam, Windows 10/11 and Epic Games, with the pre-order copies coming out February 14, 2022. The game features a small cross-play between PS4 and PS5 and between Steam and Epic Games.[1][2]
During EVO 2022, SNK announced that the game will receive crossplay between all platforms for which it was released. This feature will be released in the Spring/Summer of 2023, with an open beta test in April of the same year. This feature will be released along with Sylvie Paula Paula and Goenitz's inclusion to the game, in June 20th, 2023.
This is the first canonical game of the series to have Rollback Netcode (and the second mainline game with this feature, the first being The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match).
As part of promoting the game, SNK began holding regional championships with the company's player regions during the first season. In 2023, at the beginning of the second season, the company announced the Japan League, with top Japanese players. The company also held its own world tourney, the SNK World Championship 2023, which was realized in Autumn 2023, with regional and world qualifiers. The Grand Finals will be hosted in Los Angeles, and will occurs in March 15-17, 2024.
The story focuses on the next King of Fighters tournament held after the appearance and defeat of Verse. Following Antonov's early retirement, new tournament commissioner Anastasia sends out invitations to fighters to join the tournament; the mayhem caused by Verse's powers resurrects various long-thought deceased fighters from past tournaments as well.
Chizuru Kagura gathers Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami in order to look after the seal of the snake demon Orochi. Shun'ei, a teenager with mysterious powers resembling Verse's, enters the tournament again alongside Meitenkun and Benimaru Nikaido to better understand his powers. During the tournament, they encounter a rival team led by a girl with similar powers to his own, Isla. Isla is being mentored by a woman named Dolores who wishes for her and Shun'ei to stop the appearance of more creatures like Verse, believing Ash Crimson's time-travelling events in a previous tournament to have caused their appearance. However, a new creature labeled as Re Verse appears as the tournament progresses and targets the fighters, pulling them into another world. Following Re Verse's defeat, the mysterious goddess, Otoma=Raga, appears and attacks the teams. Upon Otoma=Raga's defeat, the fighters escape back to their world and are crowned the new King of Fighters champions.
Gameplay[]
Many mechanics from the previous game, The King of Fighters XIV, return, such as Rush Combos. One of the new mechanics added is the Shatter Strike, serving as an alternate counterattack against any opponent.
MAX Mode returns with the established mechanics from XIV, but with added tweaks. Now, it costs 2 bars of meter instead of 1. EX Special Moves can now be used outside of MAX Mode, costing half a bar, and the character's attack and Guard Crush strength increases during MAX Mode. MAX Mode in this game also has a second version, labeled as MAX Mode (Quick). If the Player activates MAX Mode when they land a hit or guard against an incoming attack, the user will glow pink, and will activate MAX Mode (Quick). This allows you to combo immediately into the next action without leaving an opening; however, MAX Mode (Quick) does not increase its power for attacks and Guard Crushes, and has less duration than the normal MAX Mode. This variant of MAX Mode acts similar to how the Hyperdrive Mode from The King of Fighters XIII worked.
Rush Mode Auto-Combo mechanics are also updated, allowing the characters to perform a different 4th input/ender after rapidly pressing light punch three times:
Light Punch: Climax Super Special Move
Light Kick: Special Move
Hard Punch: Super Special Move
Hard Kick: MAX Super Special Move
Certain game modes present in the previous game reappear in this game, alongside the addition of a new versus mode known as "DRAFT VS.", in which the players cannot choose the same character as their opponent.
On January 30th, 2024, a major update will be released, introducing the “Advance Strike”, a great new way to fend off throws and physical blows, allowing for even more aggressive plays than those possible with Shatter Strikes. This new mechanic costs half a power gauge bar to perform, but you’ll regain that half bar on both hit and block.
An Advance Strike causes a hard knockdown on hit, leaving you well placed for more offense. Unlike Shatter Strikes, the move gains a counter hitbox against throws partway through; if it lands while the counter is active, your opponent will crumple to the ground (and be prone to follow-ups). Use Advance Strikes to bring the fight to your opponent like never before!
Controls[]
Note: These are the default control schemes. You can change them at any time with the Options Menu or by pausing the match.
Note: In the Japanese PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 version, the Buttons used for Confirm and Cancel are reversed.
Movement
Console Terminology
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Arcade/PC/Windows
Confirm
Cancel
Characters[]
Overview[]
KOF XV keeps the same voice cast from The King of Fighters XIV (between veterans and debutant characters), with the only exception of Kim Kaphwan, who has a different voice actor than the one from the previous mainline entry. In Kim Kaphwan's case and for the characters that weren't in the previous game, their voice actors from KOF All Star return to voice their respective characters, with the exception of Chris and Orochi Chris (from Orochi Team and Awakened Orochi Team), B. Jenet (from Garou Team) Duo Lon and Hinako Shijo, who have different voice actors/actresses than the one from the mobile game, and the newcomers Isla, Dolores, Krohnen McDougall and Gato. Ash Crimson and Shingo Yabuki, two returning characters, retain the same voice actors since their debut. The characters from the Samurai Shodown series (aside from Nakoruru) who are also included in this game keep the same voice actors from the latest mainline game of their source franchise, Samurai Shodown (2019).
The new characters present in this game (between originals and from other franchises) are:
Isla, Shun'ei's main rival and leader of the Rivals Team. She possesses a power similar to that of her rival, though both hands are purple (called Amanda), in a similar vein to Iori Yagami's Orochi-tainted flames. She distrusts adults after being mistreated as an orphan, and hates Shun’ei for being respected by adults. Unlike Shun'ei, she can control better her power and makes some friendship with her.
Dolores, a member of the Rivals Team, is a priestess, medium and hermit who can comunicate with the spirits of the Earth and control the Holy Ground in battle. She has allied herself with Heidern. Apparently one of the many resurrected through Verse, she may hold the key to its secret, however her connection to it remains a mystery.
Krohnen McDougall, the leader of the team that bears his first name. With his shape-shifting left arm, he takes on everyone in his path. He seems to have some form of connection to the secret syndicate known as NESTS, as well as a very strong resemblance to a familiar character. He has an intense rivalry with Kyo Kusanagi and especially K'.
Haohmaru, the main protagonist of the Samurai Shodown series, a wandering samurai and a hero from 18th century Japan. He has been pulled into the present by unknown means alongside his allies Nakoruru and Darli.
Darli Dagger, from the Samurai Shodown series (Samurai Shodown [2019]), a shipbuilder from 18th century Africa, raised in that century's Madagascar, who has been pulled into the present alongside Haohmaru and Nakoruru.
This game also has a profound change in Teams compared to KOF XIV. The new team formations are as follows:
The Orochi Team (formerly called New Faces Team in their normal versions) make their official canonical return 25 years after their last appearances in a canonical game (and 13 years since their last appearance in a mainline game of the series). The team appears after being revived at the end of KOF XIV (with their resurrections being confirmed with Shermie's presence in SNK Heroines, as their awakened versions).
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 being 2000, along with Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo's father and Robert's master, who now has retired from the fighting scene to take care of a steakhouse).
After leaving the Kim Team due to both her lover Gang-il and his disciple Kim Kaphwan being too busy with training in the mountains, Luong went to join the Secret Agents Team with the freelancer agents Vanessa and Blue Mary. As a result, the veteran agents enters in a canonical team after 17 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
Although first appearing in non-canonical team combinations under other names, a new variant of the Women Fighters Team, known as the Super Heroines Team, makes its debut in this game. As a result, Athena Asamiya leaves the Psycho Soldier Teamafter 17 years, and joins with Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki (who leaves the Art of Fighting Team after the expulsion from her brother, Ryo, and being replaced by King for the second time). This is the second game where Athena appears in another team beyond the Psycho Soldier Team, the first being The King of Fighters 2003, where she was the leader of the High School Girls Team.
A brand-new team formation that makes its first debut in this game, with the sub-boss of the previous game, Antonov, taking command over the original Mexican Wrestling Team, and forming a second Team Wrestling, known as the Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (better known as the G.A.W. Team). As a result, the Mexico Team is officially undone, and Ángel leaves the team, getting Ramón and King of Dinosaurs to join alongside the ex-billionaire.
A new formation of the classic Rivals Team is composed by the newcomers Isla and Dolores and the veteran fighter, Ikari Warriors leader/chief and mecernary Heidern. As a result, the Commander enters in a canonical team after 21 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
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, 13 years ago) and their statuses no longer being active operatives, a new team formation is composed by its leader, the newcomer Krohnen McDougall, accompanied by other ex-NESTS agents, Ángel and Kula Diamond, with the latter leaving the K' Team, due to a recent grudge between her and the leader of her old team. Ángel also leaves and consequently undoes the Mexico Team, being replaced by Antonov.
Both the Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors Teams remain unchanged from their formations in the previous tournament (with their classic team formations since'94 and'96, respectively).
DLC Team Formations/Characters/Bosses[]
The Garou Team is reformed 17 years after its last formation. This new entry of the team is composed of two former members: the pirate and leader of Lilien Knights B. Jenet and the wanderer Gato, now joined by Geese Howard's illegitimate and biological son, Rock Howard, who replaces Tizoc (who became King of Dinosaurs and is part of the G.A.W. Team, alongside Ramón and Antonov). Like the first formation, its happens after Jenet's invitation to both of her team members. Rock leads this entry, and enters in a official team in the mainline series for the first time in the series.
Much like Blue Mary and Gato before him, Hein left the South Town Team after one tournament (in the butler's case, after the previous tournament and in an alternative formation of Team Outlaw). As a callback to the team's '97 ending (occurred 25 years ago), the bodyguard Billy Kane and the team's leader, his boss and criminal businessman Geese Howard, are joined by another classic member, the criminal and HakkesshuRyuji Yamazaki. As a result, Yamazaki enters in a mainline team after 19 years.
A new formation known as Team Samurai appears for the first time in the series, which includes the protagonist of the Samurai Shodown series, the ronin Haohmaru, the Ainu priestess Nakoruru (who appears in the series for thethird time) and the African shipbuilder Darli Dagger. This marks the first time that such a team from the classic SNK franchise is included after 27 years of various attempts. It presumably acts as a successor to Nakoruru's previous team in the previous tournament, the Another World Team, due to copyright issues surrounding Sky Love, Love Heart's home series.
For the first time in the KOF series, Kim Kaphwan appears as a solo character. Until then, he would appear always in team entries, most of which are led by the Tae Kwon Do master. This is also the first time in the series that he changes his gi uniform. He goes back to the tournament after to be submitted to a harsh training of his master, Gang-il.
The college student and vigilante Najd appears for the second time as a solo character once more. She made her debut in the past game, as the winner of a character design contest promoted between SNK and Manga Productions. She enters in the tournament at the request of her master to discover more about the two entities that roam the place.
One of the many souls resurrected by Verse’s defeat in the previous tournament, Rugal Bernstein returns to the series in his Omega form. This marks his return to the mainline series 20 years after his latest appearance (13 if counting the remake), and his first canonical appearance since his death 27 years ago. Unlike the other DLC characters released in the first season of this game (and instead similarly to the Season 2 DLC entries), he enters as a single entry fighter.
Teams and/or solo characters released through Downloadable Content (DLC). All the characters are available through the Season Pass (except Omega Rugal and Goenitz, both of which are free DLC characters).
Note 1: Unlike the previous entry, most of the DLC Teams/Characters have some relevance to the game's story, with all the teams having their own endings. Although having an own ending, the Awakened Orochi Team has no revelance into the canonical story of the game, being an alternative version of the Orochi Team's story, and the solo characters only earns a special post-scene illustration after completing the Story Mode under some conditions, as well as a canon story.
Note 2: Like the DLC characters released in the previous entry, the DLC bosses (Omega Rugal and Goenitz) also has no relevance in the story.
Note 3: With exception of the DLC bosses, each DLC team/character releases a free soundtrack in the DJ Station. Each boss released unlocks a new Boss Challenge, with new costumes and songs.
By playing certain team formations in Story Mode, the player unlocks special endings and soundtracks in the mainline games of the series in the DJ Station. All of them are dubbed by the voice actors of each character. The All Star Team and Old Team only unlock their soundtracks, without special illustrations/endings. Likewise, the DLC special teams only unlock their illustrations, without associated soundtracks.
Initial Special Teams[]
Note: Some soundtracks were made available after the release of the DLC teams (the KOF 2002 UM, KOF Neowave,KOF R-1/R-2 and KOF Maximum Impact series soundtracks are available along with Team Garou, Team South Town,Team Awakened Orochi and Team Samurai respectively).
Note 1: These teams appear after the release of the DLC teams/characters. Unlike the regular special teams, this entries don't unlock songs in the DJ Station.
Note 2: Beginning with Season 2, the special teams are now formed with a DLC character (barring Goenitz) and a character affiliated with the DLC character. The endings require only the two needed characters, and the third character can be any other character that the player wishes.
Note: With exception of the Hero Team Stage, all the stages revealed have some reference to the tournament or the series itself.
Team Stages[]
Stage
Stage Name
Team/Character
Description
Notes
??
Classic Chinese Garden, Jiangsu, China
Hero Team & KOF Team involving Duo Lon (3rd Match and/or Semifinals in Story Mode)
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.
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).
The construction workers reacts when certain fighters win or lose fights in this stage (and especially when the Sacred Treasures Team win or lose fights in this stage).
??
Beach Resort, Sunny Day (A.K.A. South Town Sound Beach), South Town, USA
Fatal Fury Team, Garou Team & KOF Team involving Shingo Yabuki (3rd Match and/or Semifinals in Story Mode)
The most famous beach of the American city, taking place on 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, with the South Town Bridge in the distant 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.
The plaque of the 4x4 car has the inscription SNK US.
??
Concert Hall
Orochi Team
The fight takes place at a concert on the area of the main stage that has a checkered floor. The stage features the crowd cheering, fireworks at the start of the match, 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, with the logo of the tournament displayed.
The band used in this stage is composed by NPC characters reused from The King of Fighters XIV (Villains Team's Stage).
Richard Meyer and Bob Wilson's classic bar at night. The fight takes in the main saloon. This stage features the main bar area, spectators watching the fight, some tribal drum players and the bar's logo to the right, with a big stage prop in the background resembling Mudman (World Heroes' character). Stage reminiscent of the first Fatal Fury game and Fatal Fury 3.
Depending on the matches, the stage can be full of clients (or not), and Richard and Bob can be either on the balcony or watching the fight.
??
The Sahara, Egypt
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.
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). Beside that, the NPCs in the stage salute the winners of each match.
??
Provence Main Street, Night, Paris, France
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).
In the left side of the street, a red car (very similar to the Rolls-Royce models) can be seen.
??
Provence Main Street, Day, Paris, France
Super Heroines Team
This version of the stage occurs during a Saint Patrick's Day celebration. The stag features various spectators, flowers, light poles, vans (one of them parked on a tent) and pennants with French and Irish flags. The statue of Marianne is decorated with ribbons in the colors of the French flag, and the tournament's symbols can be seen all over the stage.
In some moments of the match, a white car (very similiar to the Volkswagen Beetle model) park on the right side of the street.
??
Hyper Galaxy Ring
Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team & KOF Team involving Kim Kaphwan & Hinako Shijo (3rd Match and/or Semifinals in Story Mode)
The main arena of the tournament, taking place at sunset. The stage 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. The game's name and logos (KOF '96 and the previous tournament) can be seen all over the stage.
N/A
??
Subway Tracks
Rivals Team
An abandoned train station, at evening. The fight takes next to a barred gate. Features a traffic light, a crane, masonry pillars, lamps, a ladder, a trash can and a wooden door inside the gate, as well as graffiti with the name of the series and the expression "KEEP IT UP". Also can be seen a parked train with the series logo, a moving train and a rat running on the stage. One of the trains has "FIGHT IT OUT" written on it, the tagline for The King of Fighters 2001. Similar to the Train Hangar stage in The King of Fighters Neowave.
N/A
??
Beach Resort, Sunset, South Town, USA
K' Team
The same stage as the Fatal Fury Team, taking place during a sunset. This version of the stage features the now empty beach and two yachts in the middle left of the sand. Similar to the USA Stage in Real Bout Fatal Fury Special.
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.
???
Abandoned Theme Park
Krohnen Team, Awakened Orochi Team & KOF Team involving Sylvie Paula Paula (3rd Match and/or Semifinals in Story Mode)
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, with a castle 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).
Note 1: The carousel's speed increases or decreases according to the pace of the fight.
A snowy forest, at night. The fight takes next to a frozen lake, at the moment of a polar light. Also features some stalactites, pine trees, dead logs, stones, wolves and a shining moose, beside flags with the tournament symbols next to the fight.
The animals reacts when one of the characters performs a special move.
Boss Stages[]
Normal Boss Stages[]
Stage
Stage Name
Team/Character
Description
Notes
???
Ominous Arena
Re Verse
A twisted version of the Coliseum Arena in a pocket dimension, with negative colors and a darkened sky, in tons of red.
N/A
???
Crystallization Arena
Otoma=Raga
The same arena in the same dimension, but now with gigantic crystals adorning the field as well as a huge, golden colored, crystalline rupture in the fabric of time-space in the middle, with a distorted dimension visible through it.
N/A
DLC Boss Stage[]
Stage
Stage Name
Team/Character
Description
Notes
???
Strange Plateau
Omega Rugal/Goenitz (Boss Challenge & Story Mode)
A mysterious, eerie plain in an unknown location, with a stormy, dark blue sky, pillars of large, assorted stones and mysterious cyan wisps floating from various rocks and holes, with these potentially being souls. Various bits of vegetation also dot the landscape. Some raindrops also can be seen in the stage's floor.
This stage appears as a leaked item in some YouTube videos, and is available for other fighting modes after defeating Omega Rugal or Goenitz in the Boss Challenge.
Special Stage[]
Stage
Stage Name
Team/Character
Description
Notes
???
Coliseum Arena
Final Match & KOF Team (Only in Story Mode); Random (Only in Other Fighting Modes)
A large coliseum built over a land field. A large crowd watches the fight from the grandstand, while the arena features various broken pillars and a large podium in the middle withe the KOF logo above it.
The music for this stage is the main theme from The King of Fighters XIV, "Follow Me" (only in Story Mode). Beside that, only the teams with some rivalry appears in this stage (depending on the team chosen in Story Mode). In other modes, the music theme played is from the right's team. Another information: the concept of this stage is very likely inspired by the Rose Stadium (KOF XIII's Final Stage in Arcade/Story Mode).
??
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.
The concept of this stage is very likely inspired by Capcom'sStreet Fighter series training stage since Street Fighter IV.
DLC Stage (Only in Season 2)[]
Stage
Stage Name
Team/Character
Description
Notes
??
Boulevard Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
KOF Team involving Najd (3rd Match, Semifinals or Grand Finals in Story Mode)
The fight takes at night. next to the main foutain. Features two balconies with people cheering, palm trees, giant screens (two with the characters fighting in it) and Arabic placards, as well as the tournament's logo.
The screens changes its colors every time that a Special Move is executed:
Blue: if a Super Special Move is executed.
Green: if a MAX Super Special Move is executed.
Yellow: if the opponent is defeated with a Climax Super Special Move is executed.
Trailers[]
Teaser Trailers[]
Promotional trailers of the game.
The King of Fighters XV Official Announcement Teaser EVO 2019
KOF XV - Teaser Trailer - Official Character Announcement
KOF XV|Teaser Trailer (short ver.)
【ENG】Special video message- FATAL FURY FIRST CONTACT and KOF XV
【ENG】First Official Reveal- KOF XV & SAMURAI SHODOWN
KOF XV|Official Trailer (4K)
【ENG】KOF XV|Official Trailer
【日本語】KOF XV|Official Trailer
-KOF XV-Character
KOF XV, 스페셜 무비(Special Movie) 깜짝 공개!
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
【ENG】KOF XV|Launch Trailer - North America
【ENG】KOF XV - Accolade Trailer
KOF XV|Main Theme|NOW OR NEVER
KOF XV|Ending Theme|Here I Am (Full)
Individual Gameplay Trailers[]
Initial Team Roster Trailers[]
Characters with teams revelead to be in the base roster of the game.
KOF XV|BGM|CLUB- M ~ Flute in the Blue Sky ~ - KOF XV ver. -
Andy vs. Mai
KOF XV|BGM|A Storm of Cheers - KOF XV ver. -
Ralf vs. Clark
KOF XV|BGM|Sand and Mud
Kukri vs. Dolores
KOF XV|BGM|KD-0084 - KOF XV ver. -
K' vs. Krohnen
KOF XV|BGM|Fanatic Waltz -KOF XV ver.-
Shermie vs. Orochi Shermie
KOF XV|BGM|Mad Fantasy -KOF XV ver.-
Chris vs. Orochi Chris
Special Themes[]
KOF XV|BGM|I was THE KING OF FIGHTERS
Antonov
Idle Poses[]
Fighting poses of the teams (some with taunts and/or victory poses).
더 킹 오브 파이터즈 XV, 히어로 팀 중립 모션 공개!
KOF XV TEAM HERO IDLE POSES
더 킹 오브 파이터즈 XV, 삼신기 팀 중립 모션 공개!
KOF XV TEAM SACRED TREASURES IDLE POSES
SNK, '더 킹 오브 파이터즈 XV' 아랑 팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM FATAL FURY IDLE POSES
KOF XV, 오로치 팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM OROCHI IDLE POSES
KOF XV, 용호 팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM ART OF FIGHTING IDLE POSES
KOF XV, 이카리 팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM IKARI IDLE POSES
KOF XV, 시크릿 에이전트팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM SECRET AGENTS IDLE POSES
KOF XV, 슈퍼 히로인팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM SUPER HEROINES IDLE POSES
KOF XV, G.A.W.팀 중립 모션 소개 영상
KOF XV TEAM G.A.W. IDLE POSES
KOFXV TEAM RIVAL Idle Animation
KOF XV TEAM RIVAL IDLE POSES
-KOF XV-K'팀 모션 소개 영상 공개!
KOF XV TEAM K' IDLE POSES
-KOF XV-크로닌 팀 모션 소개 영상 공개!
KOF XV TEAM KROHNEN IDLE POSES
-KOF XV-애쉬팀 모션 소개 영상 공개!
KOF XV TEAM ASH IDLE POSES
Drawing Video[]
A sample of the game and character's creation process.
KOF XV|Time lapse|SHERMIE
TGS Special Program[]
A special program showing the mechanics and gameplay of the game, besides some new revealed characters.
【ENG】KOF XV SPECIAL PROGRAM (TGS2021 SNK)
Online Tournament[]
Online tournament sponsored by SNK.
【公式大会】KOF XV Online Tournament in Japan
ICFC Weekly Series[]
Weekly tournaments sponsored by SNK.
Asia[]
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series ASIA WEEK 1
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 2
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 3
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 4
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 5
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 6
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 7
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia WEEK 8
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series Asia Finals
Europe[]
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 1
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 2
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 3
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 4
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 5
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 6
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 7
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU WEEK 8
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series EU Finals
North America[]
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 1
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 2
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 3
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 4
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 5
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 6
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 7
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA WEEK 8
KOF XV ICFC Weekly Series NA Finals
SNK Regional Bouts[]
Regional pools sponsored by SNK.
SNK REGIONAL BOUTS - Announcement Trailer
SNK Regional Bouts - Southeast Asia
SNK Regional Bouts - Brazil
SNK Regional Bouts - Middle East
SNK Regional Bouts - North America
SNK Regional Bouts - Latin America
SNK Regional Bouts - Europe (Part 1)
SNK Regional Bouts - Europe (Part 2)
SNK Regional Bouts - East Asia (Day 1)
East Asia (Pools)
SNK Regional Bouts - East Asia (Day 2)
East Asia (Top 8)
Road to EVO Japan 2023[]
Special video showing the content of SNK's booth at EVO Japan 2023, hosted by Haruna Ikezawa (Athena Asamiya's voice actress) and Sarah Emi Bridcutt (Blue Mary's voice actress).
【SNK特番】SNK Road to EVO Japan
ROAD TO EVO JAPAN 2023
Japan League[]
【日本語実況】KOF XV JAPAN LEAGUE WEEK1
【日本語実況】KOF XV JAPAN LEAGUE WEEK2
【日本語実況】KOF XV JAPAN LEAGUE WEEK3
【日本語実況】KOF XV JAPAN LEAGUE Tournament Finals
East Asia Open Tournament[]
KOF XV EAST ASIA OPEN TOURNAMENT
Music[]
Trailer Themes[]
Some themes played in the character/DLC content trailers are references to the characters' old themes in SNK past games. Below, the list:
Several alternate colors for the cast are homages to characters in other games or media. The list below charts costume outcomes from the alternate color options.
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 that 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 Unreal Engine 4 to provide a better presentation.
KOF XV was officially announced at EVO 2019 and was originally slated for release in 2020.[3] However, the date was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More details were revealed on January 7, 2021.[4] In June of the same year, SNK announced that the game had been postponed once again and would be released in February 17, 2022, due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and the state of emergency in Japan.[5] The game's promotion was primarily done through trailers that were initially released weekly, but due to the postponement of the game, they became biweekly. Starting with the 11th until the 35th Character Trailer (Yashiro and Ángel's reveal trailers, respectively), SNK would reveal the silhouettes of the next characters to be confirmed the day prior to the trailer's release. Other divulgation means included a sketch of the newly revealed character (written and drawn by Tomohiro Nakata), the theme songs, idle poses and the story of the teams already formed.
On October 27, SNK announced an Open Beta Test for Sony's PlayStation 4/5 systems, during the State of Play conference. The purpose of this test was to improve the game’s online functions and introduce the newcomer characters to the players. A PlayStation Plus subscription is unnecessary to enter. This beta was available from November 19 to 22. A demo was made available during the Tokyo Game Show, during the 4 days of the event. Both previews featured 8 playable characters, although they did not contain the same characters for each version. Shun'ei, Kyo and Iori were the only characters available in the two first previews. A Second Open Beta was announced with the same purpose of the first, during the conference The Game Awards 2021, and was made available from December 17 to 20. Terry Bogard and Isla, characters available during the TGS demo, were present in the beta. All PlayStation betas lasted 3 days.
On November 30, 2021, SNK and Koch Media announced the Omega Edition of the game, only available in Europe. This version would be released along with the other versions, and included the main game, the first two DLC teams, the DLC costumes for Terry (MOTW costume) and Leona (KOF '96~2003 costume), three lithographs with artworks of Terry, Joe, Mai and Iori, a special slipcase with Iori's artwork (the same of his lithograph), the OST and an artbook with 119 pages, showing the characters' main artworks, renders and colors. In January 14, 2022, this version was announced for North America.
Cast and Scenario[]
Character design is being handled by Tomohiro Nakata, who is also working on The King of Fighters All Star. Many returning characters received cosmetic changes. For example, Kyo Kusanagi was altered to overall look closer to his earlier appearances in the series, but different in other parts of his design like his jacket and gloves. The decision to revive characters killed off in previous KOF games was made during XIV's development and was based off XIII's themes of energies connecting the past to the present through space and time and Oda wondering how that would affect things in the future. The deceased characters returning for XV were chosen based on fan requests and the aim of the roster was for it to have a 'fresh and festive feel'. They feel like the gathering of the KOF Heroes as well as the return of Team Sacred Treasures and Team Orochi helped them achieve this feeling. They brought back Clemence Bellamy, the story mode announcer from XIV, to appeal to the "tournament-likeness" of KOF and acknowledge that he was well received.
Previous KOF heroes Kyo, K' and Ash Crimson have been more independent protagonists, but Shun'ei is a little bit younger than them and is more of a mentally-unstable character. Oda has compared Shun'ei to Rock Howard, and says that his story could end up being as fun to write as Rock's. Oda feels that unlike the older fighting game protagonists, Shun'ei has a one-of-a-kind world view, and his values change as he grows older. In regards to Isla, SNK wanted to introduce a rival to Shun'ei, so they let the design team to come up with whatever they could think of. The resulting draft had an impact on Oda, as it is very close to the final result, but he was initially worried about putting a character with that type of design into a fighting game. According to Eisuke Ogura, Isla is "not very much into actual fighting", and has a special and abnormal dance-like style. Despite Shun'ei being the protagonist, the story will explore Isla's character as well.
Meanwhile, the character of Krohnen has been noted to have multiple similarities with K9999 from The King of Fighters 2001 and The King of Fighters 2002 due to his similarities with the character Tetsuo from the manga Akira and had to be removed from the franchise based on copyright issues. Although SNK did not confirm his identity, artist Hiroaki was more open about it, calling him the revival of K9999. Among other characters, the previous sub-boss, Antonov, became a playable character as a regular member of the cast. Oda stated that he was further changed based on the team's idea in regards of a manager. The series' official website was updated with story prologues during development of the game. Although the game gave closure to Shun'ei's character arc, SNK is not satisfied with the result, believing they could still focus on his role again.
Critical Reception[]
Overview[]
The King of Fighters XV received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Destructoid gave the game an eight out of ten and wrote, "With fantastic fighting action, a compelling roster, splendid visuals, and revamped online options, KOF XV is a treat for both series veterans and the fighting game community at large, though newcomers may still find themselves dizzied by its myriad mechanics and steep learning curve." IGN praised the game's character models, rollback netcode, and roster, but heavily criticized the lack of content, insubstantial tutorialization, reused six year-old animations, and called its story mode "utterly bare bones." Shacknews similarly lauded the visual redesign, netcode, training modes, gameplay mechanics, music, and existing roster while panning its inaccessibility, overpowered mechanics, and the absence of major characters in the roster. GameSpot praised the distinct playstyles, team-based gameplay, large roster, new modes, and the online play, and criticized bad AI and the lack of substantial iteration over The King of Fighters XIV.
Producer Yasuyuki Oda believes that the players’ response to the game was overwhelmingly positive, which allowed them to properly work on early issues such as the online play.