gamescom: Thunder Returns in Killer Instinct

“Killer Instinct” for Xbox One will be free to download with one free playable character available. Additional characters will be available for purchase starting at $4.99 / £3.99 / €4.99 each.

Players can also purchase special discounted character packages."

[jackanderson1985]

£4 per character holy shit how many characters will their be?

[zeal0us]

Your guess is good as mines. There's a total of 15 characters in the KI universe. So someone could possible spend ~28-56 if they wanted all 15 characters, that's if Double Helix plan on including all 15 characters.

MS said it wasn't a cash-in but boy it sure does seem that way. For $35 I could go buy Injustice and get way more characters.

[jackanderson1985]

i defend MS alot in their various policies...and while this one doesn't affect me in the slightest (i'm crap at fighting games and rarely get them)... this is a serious cash in

[abzdine]

"The game will be available as a free download complete with one free playable character"

in other words, a demo will be available day one. what a bunch of cheaters, calling it full game with one character.

[Gazondaily]

@abz,

Well, its not really a demo if you can go ahead and play the story and against other players.

Also, £16.99 for 8 characters is pretty cool. But only 8 characters? Come on man...give us more!

But what happened to the times when you could unlock additional costumes by completing the game and not purchasing the content? I miss those days :(

[abzdine]

okay, do you see yourself spending a whole day on a FULL game with one character? how about playing with buddies 1 vs 1 with the same character? doesn't it feel like a demo?
it's 15min max, and that's what i always spend on a demo.

Xbox One, One character! now i see where they got that aweful naming from

[Gazondaily]

@Abz,

Lol come on man, its free. Wha

What's 15 minute max? You can play against those who have purchased other characteres too so its not Jago vs Jago all the time.

To me it is a great incentive to play it day one. Also, you have the choice to buy another character as opposed to the whole game if (a) you've come across a fighter online that you really like the way they play or (b) go round a mate's house and test out a new character.

This is all the more important when considering that you're buying the console at launch and your finances will be taking a massive hit.

[abzdine]

yeah i know, demos are free as well.. just call it what it is... a demo and we're friends :D

[Baka-akaB]

" its not really a demo if you can go ahead and play the story and against other players. "

You do realise that while not the norm , there are demos where you can do that ? Fight the whole roster in arcade with a limited selection of character ... so yeah i do feel it's a demo .

Besides , a common courtesy at least in most fighting games demo , is to give you between two and four characters to try the game and get a feel .

I've yet to seen what was gain from the switch between "demo" to "f2p"

But then again i'm a "hater" , so some folks will feel free to dismiss me

[Gazondaily]

@ Abz,

"just call it what it is... a demo and we're friends :D"

Ah we're friends regardless :D

I do understand your view that it looks more like a demo. But the ability to play online against others with them having access to other characters elevates that beyond mere demo status for me.

But I respect your view.

[gnothe1]

for 35 you can buy a old game..but the DLC characters are still 5 dollars a piece on injustice..i have the season pass an they still released general zod an zatannz both a 5 dollars..so this is normal..but you guys are gonna make it seem as if its a rip off by MS..

[nukeitall]

So that is still cheaper to get Killer Instinct in full than buy a brand new release game in-store like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.

Sounds like relatively fair pricing to me.

@abzdine:

"in other words, a demo will be available day one. what a bunch of cheaters, calling it full game with one character."

I know you are easily confused so let me break it down to you.

A fighting game demo, usually involves one or two characters in one match. You don't usually get the full game story, or play against others over the internet.

So no, it is not a demo. It is a f2p model, where you can choose to play with this one character or pay to get more.

"okay, do you see yourself spending a whole day on a FULL game with one character?"

Yes, that is what fighting games do, they hone their skill on an individual character.

"how about playing with buddies 1 vs 1 with the same character? doesn't it feel like a demo?"

Not if your friends buy the entire game or the characters he wants to buy.

"it's 15min max, and that's what i always spend on a demo."

First of all, it isn't a demo, so you are free to spend more time honing your skill.

Secondly, you aren't everyone are you?

So why do we care how much time you spend on your demos?

@gnothe1:

The Sony Defense Force is strong here. There are way too many fangirls on this site. Doesn't change facts, but they sure will try to manipulate, mislead and spread FUD.

[Jdoki]

Seems like a fancy demo to me... Just like DriveClub PSN Edition.

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

Here's the best explanation for it.

http://www.ign.com/articles...

[nirwanda]

It looks a really good game but as always MS gets it's downloads overpriced.
What they should have done is at the start of every story mode give the player a hard challenge like get a combo of ..... and so many special finishes to unlock a certain character.
This rewards skilled players and give the game a level of addiction while allowing more variety in multi player and gives players without the skill to buy them after seeing people online using them.

[zeal0us]

8 characters? That it? I hope there is more than that.

[die_fiend]

£4 for a character is truly extortionate. I hope they're are no more characters

[Codeman420]

50$ for 8 characters your F******* insane.

apparently ppl dont know what currency exchange is... 34.99 euro is $50 US.

[GodGinrai]

$16.99 for 8 characters...read the article before commenting.

[Codeman420]

20$ for 8 characters, still no interested.

[GodGinrai]

Im in the uk so I went by UK pricing. but yeah..fair enough if it aint your cup of tea.

Doesnt change the fact that £16.99/$20 dollars gets you the full game though. tempted for the original though, So I may pay the £35. I loved KI as a kid and im looking forward to this new game.

[Dasteru]

Apparently you don't know that currency conversion is never actually used on video game pricing.

34.99 euro = 34.99 US

Also the first 8 characters are offered as a package for 16.99, not 34.99.

To everyone calling this a cash grab, how so?
There are 15 characters in the KI universe currently, the first 8 are 16.99 and you get 1 for free with the game as a free DL. That leaves 6 left at 3.99 each, that = 40.93 for the full game with all content. Would you rather pay 59.99 at retail for the exact same thing? Also remember most people get good at like 2 or 3 characters in a fighter and only ever use those, even if those characters aren't in the 8 pack, thats still only 12 bucks to buy them seperate vs 60 at retail for a bunch of characters you will never even use. Either way you are saving money.

[drsfinest72]

Maybe 15 in total ? 60/4 is 15 . This is pure speculation on me

Edit: nevermind I misread

[princejb134]

Lmao really MS. Are you really gonna troll your fans by charging per character
I rather buy the full game than pay per character

[Dasteru]

So you would rather pay more for the exact same thing just to say you got it at retail? interesting.

[Fireseed]

Ok... well then buy the whole thing.

[Grown Folks Talk]

If you can play the story mode, what's the issue? Most people have a few certain characters they like to use & master anyways. Like if this were the model for Soul Calibur, i'd only buy Maxi & Kilik.

[Mills93]

8 for £16.99 seems what they want people to get, If there is a second bundle for the same price it pretty much adds up to a full price game

Still going to get it on release with the full cast

[Foxgod]

Sounds good, il buy the 8 package, better deal.
If KI will be a suc6 they will obviously create more then 8 characters in the future.

[JohnApocalypse]

I hope there will be a retail version that comes with all the characters

[Thomper]

Is nobody mentioning the "Ultra Edition" that comes with a port of the original arcade KI ! Sweeeeet!!!

[NYC_Gamer]

"($40) packs in the eight characters, as well as accessory packs, costumes, and a digital copy of the original Killer Instinct game"

That's a sweet deal for fans of fighting games

[Double_O_Revan]

$20 for the FIRST 8. First being key. Even if they have 16, you're looking at at least $40-45. And that's only if they offer a second combo pack.

I have a feeling that when they're done, it'll cost well over $60.

[Bundi]

$20 for an 8 character fighting game, what's there to moan about?
How is it $45 for 16 if it's 20 for 8? Since when is paying $40 for a 16 character game a bad thing?

[Loki86]

Buy the full game digital, this is only for people who want certain characters, which they made clear.