SNK opens new studio to ‘evolve’ fighting game franchises
Japanese developer SNK has established KOF Studio to “carry on the storied legacy” of its fighting game franchises.
The studio website explains the nascent developer will attempt to “revolutionise” SNK’s vast slate of fighting properties.
Fighting game properties under SNK include Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and King of Fighters. The latter was bolstered with a new installment in 2022, while the most recent Samurai Shodown (or Samurai Spirits in Japan) title debuted in 2019. The next Fatal Fury game is currently slated to be Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which will mark the first entry in the series in over 25 years when it launches in April 2025.
An action-RPG take on Samurai Shodown is also in development. SNK is currently hiring for that project.
In June, SNK officially cut the ribbon on a new studio in Singapore to help “develop high-quality games through enhanced cooperation” with its Japanese teams. The effort is part of SNK’s aim of becoming a “top 10 global publisher” within the next decade.
SNK has always had a strong presence in the fighting game genre, but its commitment to revitalizing its franchises within that space is not too dissimilar from what Capcom has been doing with its own game library in recent years.
Earlier this year, the Resident Evil developer unveiled new entries in its Okami and Onimusha franchises. Both have been shelved for a decade or more, but Capcom recently explained it will be attempting to re-activate some of its dormant properties.
Similarly, PlayStation co-CEO Herman Hulst recently indicated the console maker is interested in reviving classic franchises (thanks VGC).
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Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s had, because the answer will be more than he’s willing to admit.
