By Sagar V. Mankar 
SNK has officially announced the launch of a new studio dedicated to its popular fighting game franchise, The King of Fighters (KOF). Named KOF Studio, this division aims to further develop and expand SNK’s fighting game intellectual property (IP) while ensuring innovation and long-term growth.
The announcement comes as the KOF franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of intense battles, iconic characters, and memorable storylines. Since its inception in the 1990s, SNK has released over 15 titles in the KOF series, with the latest entry, KOF XV, launching in 2022.
Despite the studio being named after The King of Fighters, its focus extends to all of SNK’s fighting game IPs, including beloved franchises like Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury) and Samurai Shodown.
Currently, SNK is working on multiple titles across these beloved franchises. One of the most anticipated releases is Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, set to launch in April 2025. This game will mark the series’ first installment since Fatal Fury: First Contact in 1999. Additionally, an action RPG based on Samurai Shodown is in the early stages of development.
While no official updates have been provided about the next installment of The King of Fighters, fans remain hopeful for exciting news in the near future.
SNK is currently owned by the Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s MiSK Foundation. However, SNK’s CEO, Kenji Matsubara, has previously expressed his commitment to preserving the company’s Japanese heritage despite the foreign ownership.
Source: SNK Official Announcement