Archives by Day

Killer Instinct

Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Iron Galaxy
Release Date: Nov. 22, 2013

About Rainier

PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

Advertising

As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases.





'Killer Instinct' (ALL) Developer Recruits Former Sony Exec

by Rainier on July 26, 2016 @ 9:08 a.m. PDT

Killer Instinct is an update to the classic arcade/Super Nintendo/Nintendo 64 fighting game, featuring popular characters from the original now with modern day graphics.

Season 3 includes a complete visual overhaul of all 20 stages, including 3 completely new stages such as the “Arena of Judgement” based on the Sangheili homeworld from Halo 5: Guardians.

Take on all challengers from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 and unleash your inner fighting spirit on your opponents. All previous content and characters are now available for the first-time to players on Windows 10 as well. If you already own Killer Instinct on Xbox One, it gets even better: Everything you already own, earned or purchased (characters, costumes, accessories, etc.) can be accessed on either the Xbox One or Windows 10 version. If you’re planning to play on both Xbox One and Windows 10, we recommend making sure you’ve updated the Xbox One version, and then starting the game and signing into your account on Xbox One first (to initiate the save sync) before starting it on Windows 10.

Iron Galaxy Studios announced that former Sony executive Adam Boyes has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer.  Additionally, Iron Galaxy veteran Chelsea Blasko, Director of Product Development, has been named Chief Product Officer.

Over the last several years, Boyes has cultivated deep relationships with many of the most influential publishers and developers in the games industry.  In his new role, Boyes will leverage his publisher relationships to explore new opportunities for Iron Galaxy and maximize the studio’s revenue potential.  Iron Galaxy Founder, Dave Lang, will work closely with Boyes, overseeing the Company’s strategic vision and direction and business development.  Blasko will manage production and operations across the organization, scaling the operation as Boyes delivers new opportunities and growth.

“I am extremely excited to have Adam and Chelsea join the leadership team at Iron Galaxy,” said Dave Lang. “Adam is a seasoned professional who can expand and evolve the publishing arm of our business, while Chelsea, who has been with us since inception, can manage and drive the teams forward as we execute against a grander vision.  With Adam in place, Chelsea and I can focus on cultivating talent, managing our teams and delivering great product.”

Boyes joins Iron Galaxy Studios from Sony Interactive Entertainment America where he was VP of Third Party Relations & Developer Technology Group.  He led his team to record revenue and profitability growth consistently in each of his five years in this position.  Previously, Boyes held positions at Midway Games and Capcom.

“I’ve always had a passion for game development and I’m extremely excited to be getting closer to it with my move to Iron Galaxy,” said Boyes.  “I’m honored to be working with such a talented team and look forward to creating opportunities and crafting deals that deliver their products to a wider audience.”

Adam will relocate to Chicago and assume his new role on August 8, 2016.

No matter which platform you start the fight on, know that you can see it through to completion by accessing your fighters and unlocks, whether you’re playing on the TV through your Xbox One or playing on the go with your Windows 10 PC. Jump into matches against friends on either Xbox One or Windows 10, and because you’re on the same Xbox Live network, you can party chat and send and receive messages between platforms. Enriching the Windows 10 experience is an astonishing 60FPS performance with 4K support. We know how important framerate is in a fighting game, and made sure that everyone — players on Xbox One or on gaming rigs — can take the fight online with smooth 60FPS gameplay.

Emerging from the shadows for Killer Instinct: Season 3 on day one are two fan favorites set to get a leg-kick up on the competition: martial artist-design student Kim Wu and Tusk the Immortal Barbarian. Appearing alongside Kim Wu and Tusk are two guest characters who might be new to Killer Instinct, but are very familiar to gaming fans: Rash from Rare’s Battletoads and Arbiter from 343 Industries’ Halo. Each character harnesses their own unique fighting style, which is sure to lead to explosive encounters and devastating Ultra Combos.

Like previous seasons, the new faces on launch day are just the beginning. Throughout the coming months, more challengers will appear and Season 3 will conclude with eight new fighters in total. Combined with the character lineups of Seasons 1 and 2, players on Xbox One and Windows 10 will have a roster of 26 available fighters.

Season 3 adds several improvements to the overall graphics and showcases them in three completely new fighting stages such as the “Arena of Judgment” based on the Sangheili homeworld from Halo 5: Guardians. While these new stages help to truly let the revamped graphics engine shine, each of your favorite stages from previous seasons will also benefit from the improved graphics, as the developers have conducted a complete visual overhaul of all 17 existing stages—giving you 20 stages total (17 existing and 3 new) full of new detail and “pop.”

In technical terms, Season 3 implemented reflection tech across the stages, re-introduces screen space color adjustments, and adds an all-new lighting system. In terms of pure eye candy, this means you’ll notice even greater realism for characters and stages. Try not to get too distracted by the pretty colors and astonishing textures though, or you might let your guard down long enough to open yourself up to a finishing combo.


More articles about Killer Instinct
blog comments powered by Disqus