Killer Instinct

Early access!

We hope everyone is having fun with the new changes and TJ. There's a few balance tweaks coming with the launch of S2 (e.g. Sadira has less KV on air attacks) and we will continue to play, watch, and listen to feedback, so please continue to (constructively) contribute to KI's development here on the forums!

Matchmaking & “the spinal patch”

Many players have commented that after the release of Spinal during S1, matchmaking became more difficult. Before the Spinal update, we were much more tolerant of >50ms pings in matchmaking, supporting pings of up to 200ms. That changed after the Spinal patch, getting a lot more restrictive on pings beyond 50ms.

We’re addressing this. Right around the launch of Season 2, matching search criteria will look at a larger range of pings (up to 150ms) and be less exclusive as it generationally searches for good matches between players. This should result in an easier time finding a match anywhere in the world. Of course, we’ll continue to adjust until we get it right so that everyone worldwide can play anyone else and have a good game.

S2 Progression systems

First things first – SPEND YOUR KP NOW!

We are moving away from a point bank & spend system (KP) and instead embracing an earned XP system based on you just playing the game in any non-practice mode. The new system unlocks items based on player or character level, so you’ll automatically earn your colors and accessories just by playing. The level system will continue to grow over the season, so there’s lots of stuff to chase for each character, including 9 colors (yep, 9! For both S1 and S2 characters!) and other prestige items.

For items that you already own from S1, you will automatically have them unlocked rather than having to hit the character level to access them. This is why you should spend your KP before S2 starts.

“KI Gold”

While all non-premium accessories are available by leveling (i.e. for free), we’re also going to be offering a way to shortcut the level requirements of some accessories and colors through an in-game currency called, appropriately, KI Gold. So if you really want color 6, but don't want to wait to level up to get it, you can buy it right away. For those that don’t buy the S2 ultra edition, KI gold is the new way you’ll also buy the premium accessories if you choose to do so.

And since we believe that there should be badges of honor that you absolutely must earn, things such as color 9 are ONLY available through leveling.

KI soundtracks

The delay in launching the soundtracks was over the offers – we have two albums and a double set, and we didn’t want anyone to buy one individually and then realize there was a double album with a discounted price. We decided to remove the singular albums for now and feature one two-disc 25 track version that features remastered versions of all the Killer Cuts tracks (they sound amazing!), plus all the KI Season 1 music in one package (also amazing!).

THE DIGITAL 2-ALBUM SET WILL BE AVAILABLE ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 14th. We’ll have more information on the outlets soon.

The Season 2 launch trailer

Shortly before Season 2 starts on October 15th, we will release a launch trailer. The trailer features TJ’s track (it’s… really, really good) and gives you a very clear picture of which of the remaining original characters are returning this season, plus drive speculation on the new ones as well!

Is Bayliss fixing/updating/changing/etc. any S1 costumes?
No. Kev is busy with the S2 alternate costumes. I wouldn’t call them retro exactly, but they certainly reflect Kev’s signature style.

Teases

I never said that character #3 is 3500 years old…
You will see the results of “the 10%” at launch…

“The Rise of Ultratech” Starts Now

This season, Ultratech, the shadowy corporation that hosts the Killer Instinct tournaments, steps into the light. ARIA, Ultratech’s enigmatic CEO, unleashes some of their most powerful creations into the fray, including two highly-requested classic characters from the original Killer Instinct arcade games. But that’s not all Ultratech is up to – their drive for perfection in all things has resulted in a new, streamlined interface and improved visual fidelity across the entire game.

As with Season 1, players can download the full game for free and play a free rotating character each week. As soon as you start it up, you can play all game modes, even online multiplayer matches against the entire Killer Instinct community, with the free character. If you already have Killer Instinct: Season 1 downloaded, you’re ahead of the game and the Season 2 feature updates will download to your profile automatically.

Improvements to Killer Instinct: Season 2 make it easier for new players to challenge opponents and customize their characters, but that classic experience is still intact – mastering the whole lineup of combos is a challenging task that takes time and practice. Take advantage of the acclaimed Dojo mode to master the secrets of combat.

In addition to the same action-packed experience fans loved in the first season, the team is adding several key enhancements for Season 2:

Eight New Characters – Both Original and Returning: Longtime fans of the franchise will be happy to see that TJ Combo and Maya are joined by the cybernetic dinosaur Riptor and the blazing human effigy Cinder as playable characters this season. Along with the returning classics, all-new characters are coming to Killer Instinct: Season 2, including an ancient Babylonian sorcerer, an avenging ghost, a battle-hardened war golem, and more.

Sleek New Interface: Ultratech’s influence this season extends even to the interface, making navigating and interacting with the game more intuitive. Faster character access, better stat tracking, and a new experience system makes the entire experience of Killer Instinct even better.

New Moves and Rebalance: The entire Season 1 cast has been rebalanced for Season 2, adding new techniques and abilities to their already formidable arsenals of moves. With the arrival of an entirely new set of combatants to go against, these new toys will certainly come in handy.

Enhanced Combo System: The new “aerial recapture” option gives select characters the ability to catch an opponent in the air and slam them back to the ground to continue their combo. Juggling air attacks has been increased, but the addition of Air Breakers and Air Counter-Breakers mean that there’s always two-way interaction in a combo for both players.

New Progression System: The ranking and leveling system for Season 2 now allows the fiercest fighters to earn costumes, accessories and other badges of honor faster than before. Now, all individual characters will have levels in addition to the overall player level. Every mode you play contributes to both character and player level, and “Fight Challenges” help players rack up experience points (XP) every time they complete a rank.

This launch week, all fans will have access TJ Combo as the free playable character. TJ Combo is a fantastic choice for new and experienced players with his great combos, fluid movement and real sense of power right from the start.

Also joining the roster this week is Maya, the badass monster hunter that wields the ancient daggers, “Temperance” and “Vengeance.” Her fast-paced blade-juggling combat style lets her power up her daggers the more they’re blocked, leading to increasingly devastating attacks and mix-ups against her opponents.

[iup=3589732]Monkey Man[/iup] wrote:

Cursed to rot after a failed assassination attempt on his king over 2000 years ago, Kan-Ra endured for centuries by constantly balancing the curses he places on himself with the boons provided by dark magic and artifacts. His solitary goal: to gain knowledge that will grant him absolute power over all of mankind. After getting imprisoned by Maya’s order hundreds of years earlier, an Ultratech attack on Maya’s city accidentally frees Kan-Ra—releasing him back onto an unsuspecting world that’s full of new mysteries and ripe for his… dissection.

Drawing combat powers from the dark sorceries he’s mastered, Kan-Ra explodes into battle with a unique combination of ranged attacks, nasty ground and air-based traps, and incredible situational mobility. Players will be challenged to master his distinct playstyle and diverse arsenal to best effect against his opponents.

Kan-Ra will be available on Monday, Nov. 24, for Season 2 Ultra Edition purchasers, and then on Sunday, Nov. 30, for Combo Breaker purchasers. Additional Season 2 characters will continue to be released on a monthly basis until the season ends in spring 2015 (hint: you might have glimpsed someone new in the trailer).

Tomorrow, Riptor is added to the roster of playable characters in Xbox One fighting game Killer Instinct.

The deadly cybernetically-enhanced dinosaur is available Wednesday, 17th December for Killer Instinct Season Two Ultra Edition owners, and 23rd December for Combo Breaker owners.

Check out her Ultra Combo in the video below.



Towards the end of the next trailer, below, we get a tease for Killer Instinct's next playable character, the "herald of Gargos". Gargos was the main antagonist in Killer Instinct 2.

The War Golem arrives for the Ultra Edition February 27th while Combo Breaker players can try him out March 5th