Get Ready for the Ultimate Fighting Game Combo! NetherRealm Studios and Microsoft Team Up for Killer Instinct.
NetherRealm Studios is a renowned game developer known for its successful franchises, Mortal Kombat and Injustice. The studio’s expertise in creating top-selling fighting games has earned it a loyal fanbase. However, with Mortal Kombat 12 yet to be officially announced and the typical 2-year rotation between Mortal Kombat and Injustice being defied, fans are eagerly anticipating something new and exciting from NetherRealm Studios.
While discussions about a possible Marvel fighting game have been circulating, NetherRealm Studios could potentially partner with Microsoft for a more unexpected franchise revival. NetherRealm Studios has had loose ties with Microsoft in the past, and with the right collaboration, a new game could be brought to life. One such franchise that has passed into Microsoft’s hands and could be a perfect fit for NetherRealm Studios is Killer Instinct.
Before NetherRealm Studios became known for Mortal Kombat and Injustice, Midway was a prominent game publisher and developer. Midway’s portfolio included a wide variety of titles, and it had a significant presence in the arcade scene, featuring Mortal Kombat among its popular games. However, what many modern gamers may not know is that Midway also published the original release of Killer Instinct in 1994. Although it competed with Midway’s own Mortal Kombat series, Nintendo released Rare’s Killer Instinct on consoles while midway handled it elsewhere. After that, the two series split up. Killer Instinct had sequels in 1996 in the shape of Killer Instinct 2 and Killer Instinct Gold. In 2002, Microsoft acquired Rare and with it, the rights to Killer Instinct, eventually leading to the release of Killer Instinct (2013) developed by Double Helix Games and Iron Galaxy.
However, despite the cult following of Killer Instinct franchise currently lies dormant without a clear path forward. It is at this point that NetherRealm Studios might intervene and give the franchise a fresh start. While most of Xbox’s studios lack experience in developing traditional fighting games, a collaboration between Microsoft and NetherRealm Studios could be a lucrative and exciting opportunity. NetherRealm Studios has established itself as the premiere North American fighting game developer, and its expertise in creating engaging and successful games could be the missing piece for reviving Killer Instinct.
Not only would a partnership between Microsoft and NetherRealm Studios for a Killer Instinct sequel be practical, but it might also be best for the game itself. Killer Instinct has always been considered a complementary title to Mortal Kombat, and some fans have been hoping to see the two franchises collaborate one day. While Killer Instinct has focused on delivering slick gameplay experiences rather than gory content
