Microsoft’s 2013 reboot of Killer Instinct wasn’t the most popular fighting game, but is constantly hailed as one of the genre’s most well-made entries in modern times.
From gameplay to netcode, the fact that KI so consistently receives passionate praise leads one to wonder if any developers might be willing to take another shot at it, and there are some rumors going around right now that that might be the case.
Content creator and FGC influencer Maximilian, a massive Killer Instinct fan who launched a “bring back KI” campaign back in 2019, takes a speculative look at these rumors in his latest video.
Such rumblings started back in October of last year when Xbox caster Shpeshal Nick stated that he’d been told a new KI is in active development on the XboxEra podcast. That’s, of course, been neither confirmed nor debunked, but more alleged details are starting to creep up.
In his video Max references a Windows Central article written by Jez Corden. Windows Central is a Microsoft-focused outlet and Corden is its Senior Editor, and after talking about the XboxEra comments from October, Corden offers the following to us:
“I have also heard the vaguest of unsubstantiated rumors that one of Bandai Namco’s fighting game development teams may be involved, although I haven’t been able to independently verify that yet myself. Previously speaking at an event, someone at Xbox told me that finding a studio or building a team with the specific expertise to make a fighting game was difficult
“Naturally, Bandai Namco is responsible for franchises like Soulcalibur and Tekken, and has even contributed to Smash Bros. Ultimate as well. It would make sense to get them involved if indeed Microsoft is exploring reviving the classic fighter.”
Max combs through the article while speculating on the potential of the leaks as well as how they’d actually manifest in the case that they were true. Check out what all he has to say in the full video below and then share your thoughts on the possibility of a new KI in the comments afterwards.