The King of Fighters XV

Overview

The King of Fighters XV (also stylized as KOF XV) is a 2.5D tag-team fighting game developed and published by SNK for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PC on February 17, 2022.

The fifteenth main installment of the King of Fighters series (and the sequel to The King of Fighters XIV), The King of Fighters XV builds on the predecessor's switch to 3D rendering with 2D gameplay with new cel-shading (reminiscent of their recent fighting game Samurai Shodown), new game mechanics (including the "Shatter Strike" counter-attack and a revamped MAX Mode), a new game mode ("Draft VS", where each player takes turns choosing characters and cannot choose the same one) and various roster changes.

The game's story continues the series' fourth major story arc, as the defeat of the mysterious entity known as "Verse" causes souls trapped inside it to release and become resurrected throughout the world, including former protagonist Ash Crimson (whose death formed the entity) and the antagonistic being Orochi (which is quickly sealed by the three "sacred treasures" Chizuru, Kyo, and Iori). A new King of Fighters tournament is held, with yet another mysterious sponsor and yet another mysterious calamity.

Characters

The game includes 39 playable characters at launch, split into 13 teams, with additional characters as DLC. Out of the 58 characters from the previous game, only 26 return to this installment (with 4 additional ones returning as DLC, as of DLC Team 3). Returning from earlier entries in the series include Chizuru, Ash, Elisabeth, K9999 (as "Khronen"), Yashiro, Shermie, Chris, Gato, B. Jenet, and Rugal.

The game's unplayable boss characters are Re Verse (sub-boss) and Otoma=Raga (final boss).

Base Game

Team Hero

• Shun'ei
• Meitenkun
• Benimaru Nikaido

Team Rival

• Isla (new addition)
• Dolores (new addition)
• Heidern

Team Sacred Treasures

• Kyo Kusanagi
• Iori Yagami
• Chizuru Kagura

Team Ash

• Ash Crimson
• Elisabeth Blanctorche
• Kukri

Team K'

• K'
• Maxima
• Whip

Team Fatal Fury

• Terry Bogard (with his Garou: Mark of the Wolves appearance available as pre-order bonus DLC)
• Andy Bogard
• Joe Higashi

Team Art of Fighting

• Ryo Sakazaki
• Robert Garcia
• King

Team Orochi

• Yashiro Nanakase
• Shermie
• Chris

Team Super Heroine

• Athena Asamiya
• Mai Shiranui
• Yuri Sakazaki

Team Ikari

• Leona Heidern (with her classic appearance available as pre-order bonus DLC)
• Ralf Jones
• Clark Still

Team G.A.W. (Galaxy Anton Wrestling)

• Antonov
• Ramon
• King of Dinosaurs

Team Secret Agent

• Blue Mary
• Vanessa
• Luong

Team Khronen

• Khronen
• Kula Diamond
• Ángel

Bosses (non-playable)

• ReVerse
• Otoma=Raga

Post-Release DLC

Team Pass 1

Team Garou [DLC 1, released March 17, 2022]

• Rock Howard
• Gato
• B. Jenet

Team South Town [DLC 2, released May 17, 2022]

• Geese Howard
• Billy Kane
• Ryuji Yamazaki

Team Pass 2

Team Awakened Orochi [DLC 3, released August 8, 2022]

• Orochi Yashiro
• Orochi Shermie
• Orochi Chris

Team Samurai [DLC 4, released October 4, 2022]

All three are guest characters from the Samurai Shodown series, with Nakoruru previously appearing in The King of Fighters XIV.

• Haohmaru (new addition)
• Nakoruru
• Darli Dagger (new addition)

Single Entry

• Omega Rugal [free DLC released April 14, 2022]

Season 2

• Shingo Yabuki
• Kim Kaphwan
• Sylvie Paula Paula
• Najd