So you’ve probably been sitting at your chair wrapping and unwrapping your knuckles for days. You’ve been ready for the next King of Fighters tournament. You’ve also been wondering when it gets underway, right? Fear not – for today ATLUS has announced when you finally get to crack your knuckles against some jaws. However, before we get to that, you can also now pre-order the digital version on the PlayStation Store starting now.

Those who pre-order the digital version do get some awesome goodies for their game such as the Nightmare Geese and Classic Kyo DLC costumes as well as a Dynamic KoF XIV PS4 theme for free of charge. Below you can watch Nightmare Geese rain down some of his purple-painted themed pain on his enemies, sounds better than your wrapped up knuckles, right? Right, thought so.

If that wasn’t enough for you, those of you attending EVO 2016 in LA, California will get a special treat. SNK’s title The King of Fighters XIV will be at the ATLUS booth this year throughout the duration of the show. There players will get to see the newly improved tighter controls, improved combo’s as well as MAX Mode mechanics. Also, you’ll get to see the game in its first-ever 3D graphics. Sounds good right? Not good enough? We thought so, so Atlus provided us with a bit of information abou their side-tournament that’ll be going on throughout Saturday of the EVO show. So check out what you can win – oh and sign ups are completely free. Just make sure that you are ready to win some cold hard cash. Note that it will be mailed to winners due to security purposes. Y’know, getting into a brawl and all over it probably isn’t the best.

1st place prize: $1,400
2nd place prize: $700
3rd place prize: $350

Let alone is there a chance to win some cash, there will be key developers from SNK there to do autographs and show off some awesome panels.

FRIDAY, JULY 15
All Day: THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Freeplay and Tournament Practice Stations

SATURDAY, JULY 16
All Day: THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Freeplay Stations
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: SNK Developers Panel
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: SNK Developers Autograph Session
2:00 PM: Side Tournament (ATLUS Booth) Matches Begin
TBD: Special Exhibition Match
TBD: Side Tournament Top 8

THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Freeplay and Tournament Practice Stations
SATURDAY, JULY 16
All Day: THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Freeplay Stations
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: SNK Developers Panel
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: SNK Developers Autograph Session
2:00 PM: Side Tournament (ATLUS Booth) Matches Begin
TBD: Special Exhibition Match
TBD: Side Tournament Top 8

Here are the top-line refinements for THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV:

• 3D Evolution: All 50 fighters, movesets and more are rendered in full 3D graphics that preserves the essence of KOF’s visual style but updates it with a whole new dimension.

• The Best Refinement since KOF ’98: Through extensive playtesting and balancing, the controls have been streamlined, and the Combo and Max Mode mechanics have been overhauled to create the most competitive fighter in SNK’s history.

• The KOF Saga Continues: There’s a robust single-player storyline where several years have passed since the previous KOF tournament. Now a worldwide business, the global KOF will decide who is the strongest as both individuals and companies with their own ambitions have come to compete. Players compete against CPU-controlled opponents to unlock the storyline.

• The Best Roster Yet: There are 50 fighters total, with 31 returning from previous entries into the KOF series, and 19 brand new characters. All 50 characters will be available at the game’s launch.

• Revamped Online Experience: THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIVhas devoted a lot of development time to improving the game’s netcode for vastly improved online gameplay. KOF XIV uses the PS4’s online architecture to have a whole host of online conveniences, from spectating to saving replay/battle data, and having a single online KOF XIV profile to connect with friends.

If that’s not enough content for you, guess what? We’re sure the $59.99 USD price tag might be enough for those wanting the launch day editions that will have the SteelBook case starting Aug. 23rd, 2016 exclusively on PlayStation Network. Oh, and that Classic Kyo Costume that you heard about? It’ll be free for the first week.

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About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.