The King of Fighters remains active across multiple fronts: a new browser game based on KOF '98 launched in August 2026, SNK continues to release balance updates and licensing initiatives for KOF XV, and a steady stream of figure releases keeps the franchise's characters in the collector market.
The King of Fighters series shows its current shape through a mix of new releases, persistent merchandising, and a reorganized corporate structure. The most recent game entry is KOF98 IF, a browser-based 6vs6 turn-based card deck RPG based on KOF '98, which began service on August 31, 2026, via Mobage and Yahoo! Mobage. The developers chose a no-installation browser format to let players jump in quickly from smartphones, a deliberate counter to the trend of high-end mobile apps. Official cosplayers Enako and Minami Ami were named for Athena Asamiya and Mai Shiranui at a release press conference on September 1.
The classic 1998 title remains a reference point across the franchise. The KOF '98 UMOL mobile game celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new limited fighter, Ash, and a slate of events. A practicing doctor posted a 55-minute video on a medical channel proposing an ideal remake of KOF '98, showing the game's lasting fan devotion. Meanwhile, SNK's corporate structure shifted: its subsidiary SNK Entertainment dissolved in August 2026, after its game and digital content operations had already transferred back to parent SNK in 2022.
KOF XV, the mainline fighting game, received a balance adjustment in July 2026 covering all 61 characters, applied across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. SNK also announced the SNK World Championship 2026 Finals, to be held November 27-29 in Stockholm, with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across five titles. Figure production continues at a steady pace, with entries for Mai Shiranui, Nakoruru, and Shermie from multiple manufacturers, and a cross-company figure series that pairs KOF characters with Street Fighter's Ryu. SNK's licensing push is visible through its exhibit at Licensing Japan 2026, where it promoted KOF alongside its other game IPs.
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Very Cool has announced a 1/6 scale articulated action figure of Blue Mary from 'THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV'. The figure features a platinum silicone body with detailed sculpting and a special surface treatment for a soft, smooth texture. Reservations are open at AmiAmi for 54,880 yen, with release scheduled for March 2027.
The King of Fighters series has a new entry: KOF98 IF (King of Fighters'98 Infinite Fighting), a 6vs6 turn-based card deck RPG based on KOF '98. Service began on August 31 via Mobage and Yahoo! Mobage. The game is free-to-play with item purchases and requires no installation, which the developers chose to let players jump into the world of KOF quickly from their smartphones. A release press conference was held on September 1, where CenturyUU president Shun Katsube, development representative Jeff, and DeNA's Toshihiro Arakuda discussed the concept. Katsube expressed confidence in the browser format, crediting cooperation with a Chinese developer that has worked on KOF-related titles for over 10 years. At the event, Enako and Minami Ami were announced as official cosplayers for Athena Asamiya and Mai Shiranui, respectively, appearing in costume. The game includes PVP, team-wide training systems, story scenarios, and light play elements such as a fishing game. A giveaway campaign for a signed three-piece set runs until September 30.
The Clinic For Medical and Health Information Channel posted a video on August 27 in which Dr. Hirokazu Muraoka discusses THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 for about 55 minutes. The channel usually covers medical topics with videos around 10 minutes long, making this the longest video on the channel. Muraoka, who describes himself as not a gamer, calls KOF98 his favorite game and proposes an ideal remake.
MAGI ARTS is releasing a 1/6 scale figure of Mai Shiranui from 'THE KING OF FIGHTERS,' created in collaboration with paint artist MA Man. The figure, priced at 25,740 yen at AmiAmi, is now available for reservation and ships in July 2027.
Crystal of Atlan begins a collaboration with SNK's KOF '98 on August 27, running until September 17 at 14:59. Mai Shiranui appears as a battle NPC. A versus event, login event, collaboration-exclusive costume, and a limited gacha for a chibi Mai Shiranui companion are part of the crossover.
The smartphone game KOF '98 UMOL is celebrating its 10th anniversary. A new anniversary-limited fighter, Ash, appearing in a form described as gone mad in a spiral of blood, has made his debut. The game is also running several concurrent events, including the 10th Anniversary Time Machine, Lucky 7, Lucky Festival, and Competition Grand Ceremony, which run through late August and early September.
SNK's wholly owned subsidiary SNK Entertainment has dissolved, according to a public notice in the Official Gazette on August 20. The company, which restarted in 2016 after a dormant period, ran contract development and licensing for properties like The King of Fighters and Metal Slug. Its game and digital content operations transferred to parent SNK in July 2022.
At Wonder Festival 2026 Summer, held on July 26, 2026, multiple figure manufacturers displayed upcoming releases. X-PLUS showed the second installment of the "Sakai Yuji Best Works Selection Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Poster Version," a sofubi figure of Beast King Klebatess from "Klebatess - The Beast King, the Baby, and the Corpse Hero," and the "Toho 30cm Series" Godzilla (Godzilla Galaxy Odyssey) and Space Godzilla. Also at X-PLUS: "Gigantic Series" Return of Ultraman Spacium Beam Pose, "Great Monster Series" Plastic Monster Gokinezura, Foam Monster Grotes Alien, and the in-production "KOF XV" Shermie 1/6 Scale Statue. ART STORM / FEWTURE MODELS displayed sofubi figures from "The Return of Ultraman" and "Ultraman Nexus," as well as Godzilla (2001), SpaceGodzilla, and Anguirus from the "Godzilla" series. They also showed sofubi figures of Mothra and the Demon Beast King Klevates, and a statue of Shermie from "KOF XV."
Kotobukiya is accepting pre-orders for a 1/8 scale figure of Nakoruru from The King of Fighters XV. The figure depicts the special guest character from Samurai Spirits with her hawk Mamahaha perched on her arm, captured in a gentle smile that contrasts with her combat persona. Detailed sculpting of wind-blown hair and costume patterns is included. Pre-orders close July 21, with release in December 2026 at 22,000 yen.
STUDIO24's figure series THE KING OF COLLECTORS'24 adds Ryu from Street Fighter II as its 9th entry, releasing December 2026. The 18cm figure is sculpted by Hirotaka Inasaka and produced in-house. The series previously included characters from Fatal Fury SPECIAL and The King of Fighters '98, enabling cross-company matchups in figure form.
SNK released a balance adjustment update for The King of Fighters XV on July 2, 2026, covering all 61 characters including base roster fighters and DLC additions. The patch applies to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions.
SNK announced the SWC 2026 Finals will take place November 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of DreamHack Stockholm 2026. The tournament covers five SNK fighting game titles with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across qualifiers and finals. A regional league for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was also announced.
AmiAmi released a 360-degree video of the Kotobukiya 'Nakoruru THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV Ver.' 1/8 scale figure. The figure depicts Nakoruru from Samurai Shodown as she appears in KOF XV, with Mamahaha on her arm and a gentle smile. It is priced at 22,000 yen and is now accepting pre-orders.
SNK is exhibiting at Licensing Japan 2026, a trade show held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 17 to 19. The company is showcasing licensing programs for its game IPs including The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, with displays of domestic and international merchandise and collaboration examples. SNK aims to build new business partnerships and expand its multi-faceted licensing business across apparel, figures, publishing, events, and digital content.
AmiAmi released its May 2026 figure pre-order ranking, with Lian Lian's 'Lian Lian -Sakura- Kaise Aoba' 1/6 scale figure taking first place. The top five also include MegaHouse's Mai Shiranui from 'KOF98', a second Lian Lian entry, X-Plus's Roll from 'Rockman', and Union Creative's Yami from 'To Love-Ru'.
Kotobukiya has started accepting pre-orders for a 1/8 scale figure of Nakoruru from The King of Fighters XV. The figure shows the guest character from Samurai Shodown with her hawk Mamahaha perched on her arm, priced at 22,000 yen. Orders placed by July 21 guarantee availability, with a December 2026 release.
MegaHouse is releasing a Lucrea figure of Mai Shiranui from The King of Fighters '98, based on a new illustration by SNK artist Hiroaki. The figure captures her victory pose with an umbrella and is available for pre-order at 25,300 yen, with an October 2026 release date.