SNK Playmore's fighter The King of Fighters XII will arrive in North America and Europe next year, publisher Ignition announced today, though further details are scarce.

The sequel sees the long-running series ditch all of its constantly reused previous artwork. Instead, it utilizes "new 2D high definition, high resolution sprites, on detailed 2D backgrounds," all of which are hand-drawn.

"Release date, game platforms, screenshots and loads of details on new features" are all coming soon, teased Ignition. Given the game's emphasis on HD visuals, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions are expected to follow the arcade release that hits Japan next April.

To see the gorgeous sequel in motion, check out the arcade trailer below... Read more

King of Fighters '98, the arcade and Neo Geo brawler with a cult following, is coming to the Xbox 360 via the online Xbox Live Arcade service.

The game was recently re-released in Japan as King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match on the PlayStation 2, and that version will be the one headed to XBLA, according to SiliconEra. The newest version of the game sports extra characters and balance changes for competitive players.

The SNK Playmore-developed remake does not have a release date, but it will appear at the Tokyo Game Show in October.

Publisher Ignition Entertainment today announced its intentions to localize SNK Playmore's run-and-gun shooter Metal Slug 7 (NDS) in North America this fall.

Marking the first non-arcade debut of a Metal Slug title since the series' 1996 debut, Metal Slug 7 is exclusively developed for the Nintendo DS and features six playable characters in a total of seven levels.

The game expands on the classic 2D action shooting gameplay with several new weapons and vehicles, as well as new gameplay modes to enhance replay value.