On the main stage at E3 in 2013, during Microsoft’s conference, when the auditorium darkened and Mick Gordon’s rendition of the main Killer Instinct theme started pounding over the sound system there was an irrefutable rush of nostalgia and pure excitement flowing through many long time fans of the franchise. After nearly two decades, the fast and unique fighter was returning. The results were glorious.
The newest Killer Instinct was originally developed by Double Helix (who are now under Amazon’s umbrella), then was taken over after Season 1 by Iron Galaxy Studios following the acquisition. KI brought what is arguably one of the most diverse and entertaining rosters, its unique brand of combat mechanics, and a soundtrack that absolutely demands to be cranked to max volume.
The KI reboot managed to cultivate a solid fanbase as it grew and grew with each Seasonal update. Local and online tournaments sprung up left and right throughout the height of its run. Being featured at tourneys like Combo Breaker by Rick ‘The Hadou’, CEO by Jebailey, and multiple showings at the granddaddy of tourneys, Evolution Championship Series (EVO) led many of us to believe that KI was here to stay. For the most part, it was. However, after EVO 2016 it seemed as though the IP had hit its plateau.
You see, ever since its release there was always a particular element keeping KI from reaching an even broader audience; Its exclusivity to the Xbox One. This isn’t to say there were any hardware limitations, no, the game looked and played fantastic. The negative PR garnered during the console’s reveal and breakdown was almost a death sentence to any new IPs hoping to have a foothold in the industry. Regardless, KI persevered. This was thanks in no small part to the indomitable spirit of the Killer Instinct community.
One of the most pivotal community moments was in 2015, when $100,000.00 USD was raised to not only turn the hotly demanded Shadow Jago into his own fully designed character, but to also put a cool $50,000.00 into that year’s Evolution prize pot. The goal was met and exceeded in less than 72 hours. Astounding, to say the least. However, this momentous occasion highlighted an uglier side to the Killer Instinct revival arc. Why wasn’t Microsoft themselves supporting the game more aggressively? KI tourneys saw excellent numbers with consistent entries and viewership, was one Xbox Game Studio’s most downloaded titles, and was continuing to grow. So what was the problem?
Undoing the damage done by Don Mattrick’s presentation was no simple task. It was a marathon, not a sprint and Microsoft had to make lots of changes while diverting its attention to various sectors. It was alluded at times, that KI was in a good place, but wasn’t ‘big’ enough to be the focal point of Microsoft’s strategies at the time. This didn’t stop the IP from growing however. On March 29th, 2016 Killer Instinct finally made its way to PC via Microsoft’s own Windows 10 platform (much to the chagrin of adamant Steam users). Then, a year later, the Monster Mash fighter finally found its way onto Steam on September 27th. The PC versions featured all the bells and whistles plus Cross-play with consoles. The community was primed and ready for real growth. Was it too little to late though?
For the next couple of years, all things KI went fairly quiet. Its adoring community continued to play, but mostly in the shadows. Previous content creators had all but stopped publishing KI related videos and media and the game’s presence was but a whisper in the grand scheme of the FGC. Flash forward to the present day and we suddenly find ourselves on the cusp of a resurgence. With stay at home orders and safety measures affecting events the worldwide, many annual tournaments have made the choice to forgo traditional gatherings and hold their activities online instead. EVO is one of the most notable of these.
Now, anyone who’s spent enough time in the FGC and playing fighting games in general can tell you that all Netcode is not created equal. Very few modern titles utilized the extremely efficient GGPO or similar techniques featuring ‘rollback‘ to combat the ever present multiplayer antagonist, lag. Ever since its debut, Killer Instinct has been lauded as having some of the best netcode of any fighting game. Period. When Evo 2020’s official lineup was revealed, fans around the globe rejoiced as Killer Instinct made the cut alongside other fantastic titles currently featuring some of the best netcode in the biz; including SkullGirls, Them’s Fightin’ Herds, and Mortal Kombat 11.
I love Killer Instinct. Ever since my first encounter with it in one of my old arcades. The thumping OST, SFX, the enigmatic roster, the addictive combat system, and overall presentation all worked wonderfully together to make a franchise that had a style all its own. The hope for a follow-up on the Series X is fairly low, but with more and more players coming out of the woodwork to discover and revitalize their interest in the IP, it will be hard for Microsoft to not take notice. KI is still one of the most rewarding and finely crafted fighters of this gen. It would be absolutely criminal to let it stagnate. So, let this be a rally cry to everyone with a modicum of interest in the game; Play. Share. Create. Discover. Let’s breathe life back into this slice of FGC History.