At EVO 2025, SNK unveiled a major update for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, introducing Street Fighter icon Ken Masters as a playable character, alongside significant gameplay additions, a new stage, and details on the upcoming SNK World Championship. Presented during a live panel, Director Hayato Konya, Game Designer Jonathan Campana, and Producer Joshua Weatherford discussed what fans can expect from Update 1.3 and how Ken’s arrival bridges two legendary fighting franchises.
Ken Masters’ inclusion in City of the Wolves marks a noteworthy crossover moment. According to Weatherford, the character’s design draws heavily from his Street Fighter 6 iteration, though it has been tailored to better align with SNK’s aesthetic. “Ken’s design is based off of Street Fighter 6, but we adjusted the silhouette and overall balance to match the style of City of the Wolves,” he explained. Ken’s fighting style remains fast-paced and flashy, with features such as super cancels and simplified smart style controls that make him accessible for newcomers while still offering depth for veterans.
Players will be able to customize Ken with his iconic Street Fighter 2 gi as an alternate costume, along with fully adjustable color editing options. Regarding story integration, Weatherford elaborated on how Ken appears in two distinct modes. In arcade mode, his first encounter with Terry Bogard plays out, while in Episodes of South Town (EOST), the narrative continues from his previous interactions in Street Fighter 6. “Ken is in Southtown looking for information about a certain someone,” Weatherford added, hinting at a mysterious subplot.
Accompanying Ken’s debut is the Suzaku Castle stage, a winter-themed reinterpretation of Ryu’s classic backdrop from Street Fighter 2. Snow blankets the ground beneath intense battles, creating a sharp contrast between serenity and action. “You can’t really beat a Japanese castle for a fighting game,” Weatherford noted.
Beyond character and stage content, Update 1.3 introduces new mechanics to the smart style system, including feints and breaking techniques, previously reserved for advanced modes. More combo trials have also been added to challenge experienced players. In terms of audio, fans can now enjoy Capcom music through the in-game jukebox and experience Street Fighter-inspired sound effects integrated into the gameplay.
Looking ahead, SNK announced the SNK World Championship will launch at DreamHack Atlanta, featuring titles such as City of the Wolves, King of Fighters XV, Samurai Shodown, and the surprising return of Art of Fighting 3. The total prize pool will be $4.1 million, a significant boost to the competitive scene.
For fans eager to join in, SNK confirmed that Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is currently on sale with a 40 percent discount until August 13, and the offer includes the first season pass for free. On the show floor, attendees can try Ken, earn exclusive stickers, and win collectible magnets and vouchers by participating in in-game challenges.
Weatherford concluded the panel by thanking fans for their support and confirmed that more updates are on the way, including changes to the ranked mode. “Ken is releasing soon, we have a new update coming, and later we’ll have updates for the revamped ranked mode,” he stated.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves launched in April 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As the first mainline entry in the series in over two decades, the game has been well-received for its revitalized mechanics and faithful continuation of SNK’s classic legacy.
