One of the many games to launch alongside Xbox One was the fighting game Killer Instinct, a reimagining of the classic game of the same name. Now, in 2021, Microsoft’s Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has said that a new Killer Instinct game could be made if he can find “the right team and the right opportunity.”
In an interview with the podcast Dropped Frames, Phil Spencer was asked about the status of the series and where Xbox may go next with it, as fans were asking in the live chat asking about the series’ status. Phil was quick to reassure fans that he has not forgotten about Killer Instinct, saying that “The response when we redid KI at the launch of Xbox One was fantastic.”
Phil Spencer said that he and Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Game Studios, often talk about Killer Instinct, saying that, “There are so many good games in our catalog that we’d love to visit”. Phil Spencer goes on to say, “I will just say, Matt and I have discussed many times ‘KI’ and where we would like to go with it and it’s not out of our minds that – it might be out of our minds – but it’s in our hearts and in our minds that we want to continue to do something with ‘KI’.”
As to when Xbox will do something with Killer Instinct is another story. Phil Spencer continues, saying, “It’s about finding the right team and the right opportunity. But it is not due to any kind of lack of desire on our part.” Fans of Killer Instinct should breathe a sigh of relief, as it sounds like Xbox would be open to a continuation of the franchise. Whether or not it will happen soon is up in the air. Rest assured though, Phil Spencer and everyone at Xbox Game Studios can hear the outcry.