Category: Fighting Games

After some beta tests earlier this month, Microsoft Studios and Iron Galaxy have finally released Killer Instinct on Steam. This version of Killer Instinct comes will all 29 characters, all 20 stages, every character color and skin, as well all single and multiplayer modes. KI players on Steam can also play users on both Xbox One and Windows 10 in Exhibition matches, Lobbies, and Shadow Lords multiplayer, expanding the number of Killer Instinct players to over 10 million.

If you already own Killer Instinct on either Xbox One or Windows 10, you will have to double-dip if you want to play the Steam version. As a bonus to everyone who bought the Definitive Edition of KI on either platform, you will receive every Gold and Terror skin pack for free, along with Shin Hisako, Kilgore, and Eagle.

For additional details on the Steam version of Killer Instinct, check out the official Q&A over on Ultra Combo. Otherwise, you can purchase it over on Steam for $39.99.

Source: Ultra Combo

It seems that the gear deletion issue isn’t the only thing that’s affected Injustice 2 after the recent patch. This next bit of news, however, is a bit of a positive — if you’re on Xbox One, at least. Mortal Kombat guest character Raiden, who is officially supposed to come out in October, has for some reason come out early on Microsoft’s console.

Raiden being downloadable was first reported on Injustice 2‘s official forum yesterday. Meanwhile, players over a competitive NRS fan forum Test Your Might have put up a thread dedicated to exploring the character.

As for whether or not this was a mistake, or intentional on either NetherRealm or Microsoft’s part, is as of yet unknown. NetherRealm and WB Games have yet to reply to players pointing this out in either their forums or social media, as of this writing.

Sources: WB Games Community; Test Your Might

Agreement promises improved pay and working conditions for video game voice actors.

After more than a year, SAG-AFTRA — a union representing a multitude of entertainment professionals including actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, voice-over artists and many more — has rallied against 11 different video game companies for improved treatment and financial compensation of the voice actors in many of our favorite games. The strike included Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, publishers of Injustice 2 and other NetherRealm Studios titles. We first reported on the strike back in October 2016.

It seems now that a tentative agreement has been reached, and the strike may at last come to an end. As stated by SAG-AFTRA:

The terms of the tentative agreement, which was reached early Saturday morning, include a new bonus structure that provides an additional payment to performers. The bonus payment, which is due no later than the release date of the game, is based on the number of sessions worked on each game, beginning with a $75 payment on the first session and totaling $2,100 after 10 sessions worked.  

“This is an important advance in this critical industry space. We secured a number of gains including for the first time, a secondary payment structure which was one of the members’ key concerns,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “The courage of our members and their fortitude these many months has been admirable and I salute them. We are always stronger together.”

Keythe Farley, chair of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Negotiating Committee, said the strike delivered key victories for member performers in the video game community.

“The bonus payments we have now are significantly larger now than what we had 11 months ago. And the existence of additional payments beyond your session fee is in the video game world for good, both in our high-budget and independent promulgated agreements,” said Farley. “Those are the victories that this strike has brought us.”

The deal also contains an employer commitment to continue working with SAG-AFTRA on the issue of vocal stress during the term of the agreement. Moreover, the agreement does not include several proposals sought by management, including a provision that would have fined performers for being late or distracted at session, another that would have required agents to submit performers for low-paying “atmospheric voice” sessions or face fines, and a possible revocation of their union franchise, and another that would have allowed employers to use their permanent staff to do covered work outside of the collective bargaining agreement.  

The contract will next be reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board at its October meeting.

Source: SAG-AFTRA [press release]

The new update seems to have brought a new — and alarming — bug along for the ride.

Injustice 2 players are reporting on social media that the new October patch for the game is having an unintended (and unpleasant) side-effect: the loss of various Gear, Shaders, even abilities for one or more of their characters. The lost items have apparently included Legendary and paid content as well, in some cases.

While the cause is currently unknown (outside of it being related to the patch), the publisher has indicated on Twitter that they are aware of the problem, and are looking into it.

To our players – we’re aware of the issues with Gear and are currently investigating. Thank you for your patience!

— Injustice2 (@InjusticeGame) September 26, 2017

Discussion of the problem continues in response to the tweet. No word yet as to when players can expect a fix.

Source: Injustice 2 (Twitter) [via tip from circuscancel]