Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition – Now Available!

UltraTech Timestamp:

Dear Combo Breakers,

Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition is now live, and we hope you’re having a blast with it!

As a reminder, here are some of the changes awaiting you in the Anniversary Edition:

  • A new color scheme for our logo, theme, and remastered in-game user interface: a nod to Killer Instinct Gold!
  • An all-new meta! In case you missed it, Iron Galaxy went through all the changes on their developer stream last week… or you can read the patch notes here. These updates, which range from minor bug fixes to major tuning adjustments, came from extensive feedback from all of you, and from pro tournament players. We couldn’t be more excited to see what you all will do with these balance updates – and once you get a chance to dive in, don’t forget to share your thoughts on social media with the hashtag #PlayKI!
  • Updates to matchmaking, which has now been fully updated to PlayFab services after initial migrations this past May.
  • Changes to game rendering, including updating from Dx11 to Dx12 on Xbox consoles to help optimize graphics for Series X|S consoles. Xbox Series X consoles now display Killer Instinct natively in resolutions up to 4K at 60FPS, while Series S consoles reach up to 1440p at 60FPS.

This update also streamlines the many previous editions into two versions of Killer Instinct:

  • The free to play version of Killer Instinct – now available on Steam for the first time! – includes all the previously mentioned updates. This version features one free weekly rotating Fighter and Single-Player, Local, and Ranked Modes, to ensure new players can experience all that Killer Instinct has to offer.
  • The Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition will replace all paid versions of Killer Instinct, such as the Definitive Edition… and the good news is that anyone who has bought Premium content for the previous versions of Killer Instinct (Editions, Fighters, etc.) will get upgraded to the Anniversary Edition for free! Steam users will also receive, for the first time ever, the Permanent VIP Double XP Booster and specialty colors for Gargos.

KI Base Game, Free to Play: 1 Free Rotating Weekly Fighter (Play Single Player, Local & Ranked Modes!) KI Anniversary Edition, Premium Upgrade: All 29 Fighters with Premium Content Included! VIP Double XP Booster, Specialty Holiday Accessories & More KI Gold: In-Game Currency for Progression Shortcuts ESRB Rated T for Teen, Xbox & PC: KI Base Game, KI Anniversary Edition; Blood, Mild Language, Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes ESRB Rated RP for Rating Pending, Steam: KI Base Game, KI Anniversary Edition

 

Now that it’s live, we’d like to clarify what the free upgrade to the Anniversary Edition looks like for people who have owned previous versions of KI.

If you have ever purchased any of the following on Xbox or Windows PC:

  1. Any Killer Instinct Season or Edition
  2. Any Killer Instinct Fighter
  3. Any Premium Skin Pack or Color Pack

…you will get updated to the Anniversary Edition for free!

Previous purchases eligible for FREE UPGRADE to Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition If you've ever purchased on Xbox or PC: #1: Any Killer Instinct Season or Edition, or KI Definitive Edition; #2: Any Killer Instinct Fighter (any of the 29 fighters); #3 Or Any Premium Skin or Color Pack (any Gold Skin Pack, Terror Skin Pack or Omen Color Pack) >>> You get upgraded to this for free: KI Anniversary Edition! Play Anywhere Xbox/PC Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition: All 29 Fighters with all Premium Content ever released included! VIP Double Booster, Specialty Holiday Accessories & More ESRB Rated T for Teen: KI Seasonal Editions & Content: Blood, Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes ESRB Rated M for Mature: KI Definitive Edition: Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, Mild Language, Crude Humor ESRB Rated RP for Rating Pending: KI Anniversary Edition

 

Also, if you purchased a physical version of Killer Instinct, including the Definitive Edition, you will be upgraded to the Anniversary Edition while the disc is in the drive, and all Anniversary Edition content and features will be unlocked.

Previous purchases eligible for FREE UPGRADE to Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition If you purchased the game on disk: #4: Retail KI Disks >>> Upgraded while disk is present! When in drive, will unlock all Anniversary Edition Content and Features ESRB Rated M for Mature: Retail Disks: KI Combo Breaker Pack, KI Definitive Edition: Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, Mild Language, Crude Humor ESRB Rated RP for Rating Pending: KI Anniversary Edition

For more info on the Anniversary Edition, check out our previous blog post.

For those who may be experiencing issues accessing or playing the Anniversary Edition, we’ve updated our FAQ to address some of the questions we’ve been seeing most often. We’ve also opened a troubleshooting thread on our forums to make sure we can address any other issues you may be experiencing.

Thanks again for ten great years!  We’ve already enjoyed watching so many of you enjoying the Anniversary Edition, so don’t ever hesitate to  reach out to us on our forums, Twitter/X or Facebook – and don’t forget to use the hashtag #PlayKI!

-James, Livvy, and the whole KI team at Xbox and Iron Galaxy