The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match — Everything We Know

It's official. The King of Fighters XIII, which debuted in 2010, is set to make a triumphant return sometime soon. The 13th entry in the critically acclaimed franchise and the conclusion to the “Ash Saga” is undergoing a remake and will be released under the title The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match. 

This is great news for both newcomers and long-time fans. That's because King of Fighters XIII represents a point in the series when SNK made significant changes to the gameplay. This resulted in the creation of arguably the most fast-paced and rewarding fighter game not only in the King of Fighters franchise but in the genre as a whole. Furthermore, King of Fighters XIII is the final sprites-based King of Fighters entry that will no doubt bring back fond memories of the arcade days.  

While the announcement for The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match is as clear as day, there still remain lingering questions about the story, gameplay, release date, and more. Fortunately, we have some inside scoop on a few essentials, so let's get right to it, shall we? Do make sure to stick to the end of our The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match — Everything We Know article to learn everything there is to know about the new game.

What is King of Fighters XIII: Global Match?

King of Fighters XIII: Global Match is an upcoming remake of King of Fighters XIII. This is arguably one of the finest entries in the legendary fighting franchise. For some longtime fans, it was the last entry that ticked all the right boxes. The fact that SNK has confirmed its re-release is certainly a joy for both newcomers to experience one of King of Fighters' best entries as well as longtime fans to reminisce about the good, old days.

King of Fighters XIII was released way back in 2010. It was purely an arcade version released for arcades. This was the 13th entry in the legendary fighting franchise that was best known for reviving a dying series. For some, King of Fighters XIII still remains the finest fighting game to date.

Story

SNK is yet to confirm the story for the new King of Fighters XIII: Global Match. Whether the remake will follow the same story as the original or make a few changes remains a mystery. For now, though, we can presume that the two will follow quite a similar story structure. After all, this is a remake and not a remastered version.

Gameplay

SNK is yet to reveal any information concerning King of Fighters XIII: Global Match gameplay. However, if the original is anything to go by, we can expect a top-notch system that pays respect to a title that jump-started King of Fighters. See, before King of Fighters XIII, the King of Fighters franchise was undergoing a rough patch. 

However, King of Fighters XIII essentially rebirthed the series by returning fan-favorite characters, refining the core fighting engine, and ironing out the issues highlighted in community feedback. The new changes resulted in faster-paced gameplay, cranked-up replayability, and much better-looking sprites.

With King of Fighters XIII representing the pinnacle of the series, it’s interesting to see how SNK plans to outdo itself. And when you factor in the time difference, King of Fighters XIII: Global Match holds higher expectations to match modern graphics, mechanics, and overall gameplay standards.

Development

During EVO Japan 2023, SNK announced that they are developing a new King of Fighters game called King of Fighters XIII: Global Match. And yes, the announcement took place during April Fool’s Day, but we can confirm that the development of the game is in fact true and ongoing. 

For now, SNK has revealed that they will make some new changes to the original entry, including adding several new features to the new game. They have overhauled its rollback net code and amped up online functionality. It's a highly welcome change, given the original, lacked strong online capabilities, and thus, didn’t hold its ground too well in the multiplayer side of things.

Early release footage confirms fan-favorite characters like Ash and Leons will make a return in their pixel-powered selves. However, whether the original will match the new version, in terms of story, gameplay, or more remains a mystery.

Trailer

SNK has released a 42-minute teaser trailer that you can watch here. Through a small glimpse of a fighting sequence, the visuals, and mechanics look thrilling. It’s definitely matching modern standards, though hopefully, we can see more of the story and gameplay revealed in later trailers before heading into the actual game.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Sadly, SNK is yet to confirm an actual release date for the new game. However, the developing company did confirm that a definitive version of the new game will receive an open beta test on PlayStation 4 in the early summer of 2023. Perhaps, the release date will follow sometime later, so we can tentatively anticipate a late summer 2023 release.

Nintendo Switch owners will be happy to know that SNK plans to release King of Fighters XIII: Global Match on Switch. That’s because the original never made it to a Nintendo platform. Along with the announcement, SNK revealed the beloved fighting game will also release on PlayStation 4 platforms. In the past, King of Fighters XIII was available on PlayStation 3, iOS, Android, PC, and Xbox 360. So, perhaps the remake might also make it to the iOS, Android, PC, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S platforms, or perhaps a crossplay option? Let’s wait and see.

For now, SNK is yet to confirm any editions for King of Fighters XIII: Global Match. However, we will make sure to constantly update you as soon as we learn any new information pertaining to editions, release date, and more. Stay tuned.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of King of Fighters XIII: Global Match when it drops? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.