Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, said he and other executives want to bring back the Killer Instinct fighting series, but any revival hinges on finding “the right team and the right opportunity,” he told the Dropped Frames podcast.
Spencer recalled the strong public reaction when Microsoft revived Killer Instinct with the 2013 reboot for Xbox One. That relaunch followed a 17-year gap with no new entries in the franchise.
Executives still interested but no concrete plan
Spencer said he and Matt Booty of Xbox Game Studios have discussed Killer Instinct frequently and would like to move forward, stressing that the franchise remains “in our hearts and minds.” He also clarified that the lack of a new title is not due to a lack of desire: “we love the franchise and the community engagement,” he said, while remaining vague about specific plans or timelines.
Franchise history and past releases
Originally developed by Rare, Killer Instinct became Microsoft’s property after the company acquired the studio in 2002. Under Microsoft, the series’ most recent major release was the 2013 reboot, which launched on Xbox One and received three seasons of additional content, the last of which arrived in 2016.
Before the reboot, Killer Instinct consisted of two main arcade-era titles. The original Killer Instinct debuted in arcades in 1994 and was ported in 1995 to the Super Nintendo and Game Boy. Its sequel, Killer Instinct 2, appeared in arcades in 1996 and was later ported to Nintendo 64 as Killer Instinct Gold.
Community reaction and legacy
Spencer highlighted the franchise’s enduring fanbase and the positive response to the 2013 title as reasons the series remains a consideration for Xbox. Beyond those comments, he offered no details on studio assignments, development timelines or release strategies, reiterating that any decision will rely on finding the appropriate team and timing.
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