Like in previous titles, players can finish their opponent using an Ultra Combo, an automatic sequence of attacks that can only be used to end a match.

An update in February 2017 brought the return of the series' "Ultimate" attacks, cinematic finishing moves for certain characters that can be used in place of an Ultra Combo.

A training mode is also included, which features a recordable CPU dummy, in-game frame data, as well as viewable hit-boxes.

After first reaching the landing page, a player plays 10 qualifying matches to determine their initial tier placement on the ladder system.

[4] The game's online netcode, developed with assistance from the creator of GGPO, is based on GGPO-style rollback functionality.

[7] An additional single player mode, "Shadow Lords", was added to the game via a free update in September 2016.

Serving as the story mode to Season Three, Shadow Lords requires players to assemble a team of three playable characters and choose between a series of procedurally-generated scenarios and battles against Gargos's mimic fighters, similar to a roguelike.

Rewards are carried over between playthroughs of Shadow Lords, and additional content was added to the mode via several updates following its launch.

[14] Arcade Mode in Season One features story-based campaigns for each character, culminating in a final battle with Fulgore.

In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly reported that Rare were deep into development on a Killer Instinct 3 which would likely be released in 1998.

[31] Rare veteran Lee Musgrave, who was the former head of art at Rare, spoke on the issues of making Killer Instinct for XBLA: "We came close to firing off a conversion of Killer Instinct a few times, but there were licensing obstacles to that, and it never really had enough perceived interest to push it forward".

Ken Lobb said more characters were to be revealed at then-upcoming events such as Evolution Championship Series 2013, during which Chief Thunder's return was teased.

They include former Capcom developer and Weaponlord co-creator James Goddard and former competitive player and tournament organizer Adam "Keits" Heart as combat designers, former Street Fighter developer and Weaponlord co-creator Dave Winstead as character designer, competitive Street Fighter player Campbell "Buktooth" Tran as a producer, and former Tekken community manager Rich "FilthieRich" Bantegui and tournament organizer Alex Jebailey as community managers.

[6][47][48][49][50][51] A live demonstration of the title at E3 2013 between producer Torin Rettig and Xbox community manager Ashton Williams was poorly received by a number of bloggers, journalists and developers, including Jonathan Blow.

[52] Following the announcement that Double Helix Games had been purchased by Amazon, Microsoft confirmed that support for Killer Instinct would continue, later putting Iron Galaxy Studios as the developer of its Season Two content.

[58] The final guest character, Gears of War's General RAAM, was announced during Microsoft's E3 2016 press briefing and released following the presentation's conclusion.

[63] On April 2, 2024, a final update to Anniversary Edition was released that added ranked cross-platform play, along with two new unlockable stages and three unlockable colors for each character, as well as giving all players access to the additional colors that were previously exclusive to the Ultimate Source figures.

[68] In May 2015, Microsoft began a fundraising campaign to raise money for supporting Killer Instinct tournaments, making Shadow Jago available for purchase for two weeks as an incentive.

[69] The fund ultimately raised $100,000 in three days; as a result of its success, Iron Galaxy confirmed that they would be updating Shadow Jago later in the year, giving him the moves used by his boss incarnation.

A double-album set, containing the official Season One soundtrack and the Killer Cuts album, was released digitally on October 14, 2014.

[10] A second double-album set, including the Season Two soundtrack and the Killer Instinct Gold Cuts album, was released on August 4, 2015.

[82] Season One received a mixed reception at launch, scoring a 73/100 approval rating from aggregate review site Metacritic.

[90] Chris Carter for Destructoid did not take issue with the game's new pricing model, calling it "a far cry from an abusive free-to-play scheme" yet still criticized the initial content at launch as "bare-bones".

[84] Season Three was also similarly positively received with Patrick Hancock for Destructoid praising the new addition and overall, the development the game had made since its original release, stating that "Killer Instinct has slowly become one of the most competent fighters in the genre".

[97] Orchid's theme ("Touch Me and I'll Break Your Face") won the Best Original Vocal Song – Pop at the 12th Game Audio Network Guild Awards.

Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) nominated Killer Instinct for "Fighting Game of the Year".