Author: Ian "iantothemax" Walker

Image via Edge

Throughout fighting game history, numerous developers have mixed together separate franchises in huge, fan-enticing crossovers. Marvel vs. Capcom, Capcom vs. SNK, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe…the list goes on and on. But what if someone were to step in and broker an insane mash-up of series from multiple studios as a call-back to the genre’s roots in the 80s and 90s?

If Bandai Namco Games’ Katsuhiro Harada has his way, this sort of fighter may actually see the light of day.

During his conversation with Polygon as part of their Life in Japan feature, the director described such a title when asked about what he has on his developer bucket list. Instead of grabbing two of Bandai’s own franchises and calling it a day, Harada wants to bring together old-school characters created by Capcom, Sega, Koei Tecmo, SNK, Warner Bros., and even Data East for a crossover of monumental proportions.

Ryu facing off against Ryu Hayabusa? Wolf Hawkfield grappling with Clark Still? The possibilities are endless.

Since many of the potential cast members would be too obscure for the general gaming community, the focus would obviously be on those players who have been enjoying fighters for much of their lives. “I’d want to have, ‘Not for casual users. Only for hardcore gamers,’” Harada said.

But there’s nothing new under the sun. Many of you may remember that King of Fighters started off as such a venture, bringing together characters from SNK properties like Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors, and Psycho Soldier as a testament to the company’s many popular titles. That being said, Harada’s dream is a much different because of the work necessary to license characters from so many developers.

So, what do you think? Is this nothing but an overambitious developer’s pipe dream or could this mega-crossover one day grace our scene?

Source: Polygon

As of yesterday, DC Comics’ Mortal Kombat X series has reached a fourth installment, providing a lead-up to the title’s release this April. While we won’t get too far into details in order to avoid spoiling developments so far, a sprawling piece of art featuring a number of notable characters popped up in issue three that may provide hints as to who will be returning in the upcoming game.

Some folks in the image to the right, such as Scorpion (seen in the top-left corner with comic debutant Takeda), Kano, and Kotal Kahn have already been revealed, there are quite a few faces Mortal Kombat fans will have no problem placing.

Starting out in the top middle, we see newcomer Cassie Cage participating in a cage match with Frost, a member of the Lin Kuei clan that possesses cryogenic powers similar to Sub-Zero. This storyline continued in issue four, which also introduced Jax’s daughter Jacqui, seen in the bottom right-hand corner sparring with her metal-armed father.

Moving right, there’s a section depicting Kotal Kahn and what appears to be the silhouette of Ferra and Torr in the distance. While their part in the story is still a little murky (like Jacqui, they only recently showed up in the comic), Mortal Kombat veteran Reptile can also be spotted in their midst.

Mileena may have been leaked by way of a promotional video currently playing in GameStop locations, and the comics may have just cemented her importance in the story and, therefore, the playable cast. She can be seen in the lower right corner with Reiko, a general in Shao Kahn’s army that first made an appearance in Mortal Kombat 4.

Mention has been made of Mileena in the most recent issue of the Mortal Kombat X comic as well, with Kotal Kahn asking Sonya Blade (now a colonel) for Earthrealm’s help in defeating her. During his visit, he is flanked by D’Vorah and a man by the name of Erron Black, who has yet to show up in any sort of media.

While none of this is concrete proof that these characters will be playable in Mortal Kombat X, it does shed some light on their effect on the overall narrative and give us something to think about in the meantime. Let us know who you think will show up in the comments below.

Mortal Kombat X will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on April 14.

Source: DC Comics, special thanks to Haketh for his help in identifying characters.

Tekken fans will be able to play the series’ upcoming seventh installment in less than a month, according to Fukushima’s Super Nova game center.

A recent tweet from the arcade states that they will be receiving Tekken 7 cabinets on February 18 and installing them that day so that folks can start playing immediately. This lines up with earlier statements from Bandai Namco Games’ Katsuhiro Harada, who mentioned a pre-launch version of the title would arrive in Japan in February before its official release in March.

In addition to characters like Saudi newcomer Shaheen and the controversial Lucky Chloe, Tekken 7 introduces a number of updated gameplay mechanics and visual upgrades that sets it apart from previous chapters.

With an Evo 2015 appearance slated for July, these next few months are sure to be a whirlwind of competition in the Tekken community as they vie for the big stage. Stay tuned for what’s sure to be a glut of Tekken 7 footage in the near future.

Source: Super Nova Fukushima via Avoiding the Puddle and NeoGAF

While Frosty Faustings VII will no doubt feature some spectacular competition, Killer Instinct fans should definitely keep their eyes on the event for one other reason.

Iron Galaxy Studios staff will be attending the event to show off upcoming season two character Omen. We’ve seen bits and pieces of his gameplay through live broadcasts, but numerous changes have reportedly been made since then. This will be a great opportunity to grab another early look at the Herald of Gargos before its official release, so be sure to tune into Twitch tomorrow at 10 PM CST (8 PM PST, 11 PM EST) to catch all the action if you aren’t able to attend in person.

Frosty Faustings VII is taking place this weekend in Northbrook, Illinois. We will have an article up for the tournament streams up as soon as it begins in earnest.

Source: Frosty Faustings

With the release of Ultra Street Fighter IV, more and more organizations have adopted the league stylings seen in Japanese events like TOPANGA when conducting their tournaments. A refined system that brings together some of the most talented players in a respective region, leagues arguably do a better job of showcasing skill thanks to the round-robin format.

This weekend, Gaming Live is set to host a league of their own, comprised entirely of European competitors. Instead of being thrown into one large group, however, KAKUTOP League’s eight invitees will be split into two pools. Each player will compete in a first-to-five match against every other player in their pool, and the two with the best records will move onto the Sunday finals.

That feat alone will put them in the money, but their winnings obviously raise the higher they place in the competition. The total prize pool adds up to €1500 (~$1680 USD), and the four players who manage to reach the finals will also be qualified to attend the next KAKUTOP event.

The full list of competitors is as follows:

KAKUTOP League is scheduled to begin tomorrow, January 24, at 4 PM GMT (8 AM PST, 11 AM EST). A stream will be provided by James “WORSTGIEFEVER” Bardolph through Twitch, so feel free to check it out and see how the participants of Europe’s first Ultra Street Fighter IV league fare.

Source: Ken Bogard, tip via kostribuo

Fans looking for more details on Mortal Kombat X won’t have to wait long according to a new announcement from NetherRealm Studios.

Confirming statements made by creative director Ed Boon over the past few days, the developers will be hosting a special broadcast next week to showcase the upcoming title. Whether this stream will deal exclusively with the recently revealed Kung Lao and Kitana (pictured above) or include a look at new characters remains to be seen.

The show is scheduled to take place next Thursday, January 29, at 3 PM CST (1 PM PST, 4 PM EST), so be sure to tune in for the latest information.

Mortal Kombat X will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on April 14.

Source: NetherRealm Studios