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Available on: GBA

Killer Instinct trademark renewed by Microsoft, along with a tease that something might really be happening this time

No, really, they might not be screwing with us this time...

Words: on September 18, 2012
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After what feels like millennia of fan outcry and occasional developer teases, it seem sthat Microsoft might finally be gearing up to announce something new for Rare's brutal and bonkers Killer Instinct series.

Speaketh Microsoft in a Killer Instinct-themed post on the official Play XBLA blog:

"With all due respect to our friends in the media who like to frequent trademark sites, we thought we’d break this one ourselves. :)

"Our legal eagles have authorized us to say: “We have either renewed or refiled a trademark application in various jurisdictions.”

That’s it! Have a good Monday!" 

Interesting. While companies renew trademarks all the time (usually simply to protect their own brands, whether or not they have any intention of using them any time soon), it's rare that anyone ever announces the fact. That Microsoft has, and has done it so flagrantly, knowing exactly what the fan reaction would be, is a rather exciting hint that something might be around the corner. Given the location of the post, an XBLA re-release of the original game(s) at least seems likely, particularly considering that Microsoft has already remade of a few of Rare's other big Nintendo 64-era hits in the form of HD  remasters of Perfect Dark and the first two Banjo-Kazooie games. 

What has prompted this seeming sudden interest in its long-overlooked fighting franchise? Tricky to say. Though the huge financial success that both Capcom and Warner Bros. have had in the 2D combat arena over recent years might be some small catalyst...

Related

Games:

Killer Instinct

Platforms:

GBA

Topics:

Microsoft , Rare, Xbox Live Arcade, xbox live arcade

7 comments

  • LoneFullmetal7 - September 18, 2012 11:56 p.m.

    Get ready for Kinect Instinct!

  • shawksta - September 18, 2012 8:26 a.m.

    Killer instinct is one hell of a game to have memories with, Ultra Combo-ing the living crap out of each other, the music, the way the announcer says galcius's name, it was fun times man. With that said, this news should excite people though the most imminent and obvious is the HD re-release, and pretty much it's purpose is more likely to get people ready for KI3 Can this finally mean Microsoft is letting Rare Free from their Kinect shackles to do what they do best, or will we be greeted with the sinister "Killer Instinct:Nuts n Bolts"

  • JayQ - September 18, 2012 2 p.m.

    Rare will probably have nothing to do with this or KI3 if it ever get's made and if this is a HD remastered version for XBLA it would more than likely be a test to see if it sells enough to justify KI3 which I honestly doubt it will.

  • shawksta - September 18, 2012 5:20 p.m.

    Killer instinct is Rare's Creation, unless Microsoft wants to throw them off and have another studio do it, than Whatever's left of Rare will be setting that up

  • antiAntag0nist - September 18, 2012 8:25 a.m.

    I haven't played Killer Instinct in forever! Emulating just ain't the same. I'm all for an HD release on XBLA of either the original or Gold. I would also love to see Blast Corps in the future, just saying...

  • CitizenWolfie - September 18, 2012 7:54 a.m.

    My uni friend was given a commission to work on character designs for a Killer Instinct reboot about two years ago but I think whoever commissioned him was either a phony or the project had fallen through as he never heard from them again after sending them a bunch of concept sketches. But maybe we'll see them after all. I loved KI back in the day.

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