A History of Killer Instinct

Season 1

Table of Contents

Patch notes for each patch in Season 1 are below. The game launched on November 22, 2013 alongside the Xbox One itself, and received 5 patches before Double Helix, Season 1's developer, was acquired by Amazon and work transferred to Iron Galaxy Studios for Season 2.

Patch 1.1: "Quality of Life Patch #1" - Jan 4, 2014 (discussion)

System

  • Character rotation has been added. Sabrewulf is the new free character, replacing Jago.
  • Players will now have access to play regardless of what USB port they plug into.
  • Sign-in changes via KINECT will no longer erase save-data.
  • Players will be able to disable toasts from the option menu (under display options)
  • COLOR #5 PROPERLY UNLOCKS (NOTE: Players who have accomplished these tasks prior to launch will now be awarded retroactively)
  • TRAINING MODE ICON UNLOCKED (NOTE: If you have completed all the tasks required to unlock the costume, the TRAINING ICON will retroactively be unlocked.)
  • Character Select option added to the pause screen of local versus
  • Command List corrected and updated
  • Game will now pause when the controller for player 2 is removed
  • Accessory menu screens updated and patched
  • Added access to the MELD from the pause screen
  • Replays library will be cleared since executable has been updated to a new version number
  • Jago’s equipped accessories now display properly while in dojo mode.
  • Privilege check has been moved into the Xbox Live menu so non-gold members can view leaderboards
  • General fixes have been implemented to ensure the proper user-flow for people wanting to play exhibition matches with friends.
  • RANK events (Rank-up/Rank-down), display notifications to both players prior to the start of the match.
  • The rank point distribution method has been updated. Please see the chart below [graphic lost - Infil] for the updated system.
  • There were several instances where SHADOW MOVES we’re un-breakable after performing an instinct.-mode cancel With the current fix, SHADOW MOVES will be fully intractable after an instinct-mode cancel.
  • Players can now adjust block height during instinct mode activation to prevent unblockables.
  • There were several instances where certain moves labeled as “ENDERS” where unbreakable .

Jago

  • Jago’s Endokuken is now classified as an OPENER, when used in the beginning of combos.

Sabrewulf

  • Shadow Eclipse now scales properly if used as an OPENER.
  • LEVEL-3 eclipse ENDER has been corrected to hit the opponent after performing a JUMPING SLASH

Glacius

  • Shadow Hail will now have the same hit properties as an OPENER.

Thunder

  • None

Sadira

  • HP /Shadow version of Widow’s bite is now categorized as OPENER.

Orchid

  • Category correction for the first (2) hits of ICHI NI SAN.
  • Damage scaling correction on UPPER FIRECAT

Patch 1.2: "The Spinal Patch" - Jan 31, 2014 (discussion)

System

  • Spinal character and his accessory sets are now available for ULTRA EDITION and COMBO BREAKER PACK owners.
  • Meld will now greet you each time you start up Killer Instinct to highlight any updates or news!
  • Introducing a novel solution to rage quitters in Ranked Match: JAIL
    • The first time your disconnect percentage goes above 15 percent you go to JAIL
    • A 10 match minimum is required
    • JAIL lasts for 24 hours. During this time you can only be matched against other JAIL members
    • Each time you go to JAIL the amount of time increases by 24 hours (capped at 5 days – 120 hrs)
    • While in JAIL your profile icon will be automatically changed to a custom JAIL icon to let you know you are in JAIL
    • When your JAIL time is up, you go back into the public again (even if your disconnect percentage is back over 15%)
    • However, when back in public, if you disconnect and you are still above 15 percentage you go directly back to JAIL
    • For any match that sends you to JAIL, player will take a loss
  • Players now have the ability to quickly reset their character positioning by using the commands below while in PRACTICE MODE
    • View + Menu – Reset both characters back to the starting locations in the center of the stage
    • View + Menu + Left – Reset both characters on the left side of the stage
    • View + Menu + Right – Reset both characters on the right side of the stage
  • Players will now be able to press “Y” to see the top rank of that specific leaderboard.
  • Fixed an issue where users would hear audio distortion during ULTRA COMBO sequences.
  • Several issues have been fixed to make sure that the AI will react accurately towards the settings of the player.
  • Ranked search will now properly search for the ranks nearest to your rank, then slowly expand its ranked search range over 1 min.
  • Fixed an issue when you tried to join an invite and it would fail because it was waiting for you to leave your previous session.
  • Fix spelling errors in “Journeyman” and “Baller” Rank Title graphics.
  • Fixed hosting an Exhibition Match while player rank was above 20.
  • Potential Rank Up / Rank Down messages will no longer stay on the screen if the opponent disconnects during the match.
  • Fixed post-match screen showing incorrect win/loss in Exhibition Match.
  • Ranking bar animation on loss has been fixed, and will now properly display.

Jago

  • Fixed a bug that allowed players to perform a Shadow Endokuen without using meter.

Sabrewulf

  • Tracking properties of OVERPOWER (Back + Heavy Punch) will no longer auto correct if the opponent jumps over Sabrewulf.

Glacius

  • None

Thunder

  • None

Sadira

  • Fix to web ball causing a blowout reaction during ultra if opponent was already above 100 KV.

Orchid

  • Fix to Shadow Itch – Ni – San getting broken when used as an opener in certain cases.

Patch 1.3: "Quality of Life Patch #2" - Feb 20, 2014 (discussion)

System

  • All “Jail” stats have been RESET aka “clean slate”
  • Fix to bug where BOTH players would go to jail on disconnect
  • Adjusted percentage rate for match disconnects that will cause the user to be sent to jail.
  • Users no longer lose points when losing a match in Survival Mode
  • Fixed an issue where progression data would not save. All user data, items acquired, etc. should now save properly.
  • Potential Fix for Ultra audio glitch (may still happen and needs more investigation).
  • If you perform an ULTRA COMBO in-game, you automatically win the match. Players who disconnected while their opponents perform a match-winning ULTRA COMBO, will take a loss on their win/loss stats.
  • Fixed an issue where players would soft-lock on the character/stage loading screen. This issue has been resolved.
  • The character select option from “Replays” has been removed.

Spinal

  • Fix for Spinal teleport causing crash/ de-sync in corner against back dashing opponents.
  • Fix to manuals being unbreakable after using the dive kick as an opener
  • Fix to counter breakers not being accessible when using a divekick as an opener.
  • Fix to second Spinal divekick snapping to ground if you do it while opponent is still in reaction from first dive kick
  • Fix bug with Spinal skeleport linker not crossing up correctly

Patch 1.4: "Quality of Life Patch #3" - Mar 4, 2014 (discussion)

System

  • Players will now be able to save their favorite character-specific customizations to specific colors.
  • Players who do not own the Combo/Ultra bundles can now purchase their characters from the character select screen.
  • XBOX Live renamed to “Multiplayer”
  • Leaderboards now located on the main menu
  • If you receive game/match invites prior to the “downloading content” screen, players will be prompted AFTER the check-in.
  • The replay functionality has now been updated and fixed.
  • Match stats now correctly if a match results in a DRAW when playing online.
  • Ranked “Most Well Rounded” win ration column has now been fixed to show correct data.
  • Message: PLEASE READ We are aware of the existing issue where the game is returning players to the Xbox dashboard (after downloading the patch), and we are looking into a solution for this and will update here for any posts to help resolve the issue. Thank you very much for your patience.

Character Changes

  • None

Patch 1.5: "The Fulgore Patch" - April 9, 2014 (discussion)

System

  • Fulgore, a new playable character, has been added to the roster.
  • Online lobbies have been added to the game.

[Unfortunately, the rest of the notes for this patch were either not released or have been lost. If you know a place that has archived the patch notes, please contact me! - Infil]

Show me Season 2's notes.

Season 2 Patch Notes