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SNK
SNK is actively expanding its classic game IPs through enhanced re-releases, a new direct retail channel, and a dedicated e-sports circuit, while a new subsidiary studio led by Katsuhiro Harada operates independently.
Synthesized from 10
Yomimono stories · updated
3d ago
SNK has been steadily reviving its classic fighting game library through the NEOGEO Premium Selection series. In June 2026, the company announced a Steam version of Ninja Masters: Haoh Ninpocho with rollback netcode, a lobby for up to nine players, tournament modes, and a practice mode. At EVO 2026, SNK revealed Art of Fighting: Ryuko no Ken Gaiden R, a remaster that adds King and Yuri Sakazaki as new playable characters, includes balance adjustments, rollback netcode, an expanded training mode, and a VS mode. A revamped version of Art of Fighting 3 titled The Path of the Warrior: Art of Fighting 3 R was also announced, adding King and Yuri Sakazaki, and launching on PC via Steam. These releases signal SNK's intent to treat the NEOGEO Premium Selection as a platform for enhanced re-releases rather than simple emulations.
SNK is also investing in merchandising and e-sports. The company opened its official online store NEOGEO STYLES in May 2026, launching with a Terry Bogard cap made in collaboration with NEW ERA and a novelty soy sauce product inspired by the song Geese ni Shoyu. At Licensing Japan 2026, SNK showcased licensing programs for The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, aiming to expand its licensing business across apparel, figures, publishing, events, and digital content. The SWC 2026 Finals were announced for November 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden, with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across five titles and a regional league for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
In a major structural move, SNK announced the launch of VS Studio SNK in May 2026, a new game studio led by former Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. SNK invested in the studio as a consolidated subsidiary, but Harada publicly directed recruitment inquiries away from SNK to the studio's own website, reinforcing its independence. The studio is not a 100% subsidiary and has guaranteed independence. SNK also released an animated video for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, directed by Masami Ōbari and produced by Studio G-1 Neo with Asahi Production, as the game nears its first anniversary.
Key facts
- VS Studio SNK launch
- SNK announced the launch of VS Studio SNK, a new game studio led by former Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada, in May 2026. ↗
- NEOGEO STYLES online store
- SNK opened its official online store NEOGEO STYLES on May 29, 2026, with a Terry Bogard cap and Geese's Soy Sauce SPECIAL. ↗
- SWC 2026 Finals
- The SWC 2026 Finals will take place November 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden, with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across five titles. ↗
- Art of Fighting: Ryuko no Ken Gaiden R
- SNK announced a remastered version of the 1996 fighting game at EVO 2026, adding King and Yuri Sakazaki as new playable characters, with rollback netcode and expanded modes. ↗
- The Path of the Warrior: Art of Fighting 3 R
- SNK announced a revamped version of the 1996 fighting game adding King and Yuri Sakazaki, launching on PC via Steam. ↗
- Ninja Masters: Haoh Ninpocho Steam version
- SNK announced a Steam release of the 1996 arcade fighting game with rollback netcode, a nine-player lobby, tournament modes, and a practice mode. ↗
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves animated video
- SNK released an animated video for the game directed by Masami Ōbari, produced by Studio G-1 Neo with Asahi Production. ↗
- Licensing Japan 2026 exhibition
- SNK exhibited at Licensing Japan 2026 to expand licensing programs for The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug. ↗
Timeline
- Jul 3, 2026 Kotobukiya Reveals Figure Prototypes and Color Samples at Anime Expo 2026
- Jun 29, 2026 Art of Fighting 3 Gets Revamped R Version With King and Yuri
- Jun 29, 2026 SNK World Championship 2026 Finals Set for Stockholm With $4.2 Million Prize Pool
- Jun 29, 2026 SNK Announces Art of Fighting: Ryuko no Ken Gaiden R Remake at EVO 2026
- Jun 17, 2026 Ninja Masters: Haoh Ninpocho Steam Version Announced With Rollback Netcode
- Jun 17, 2026 SNK Exhibits at Licensing Japan 2026 to Expand Game IP Business
- Jun 10, 2026 Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Gets Animated Video From Masami Ōbari
- May 29, 2026 SNK Opens Official Online Store NEOGEO STYLES With Terry Bogard Cap and Geese Soy Sauce
- May 19, 2026 Harada Directs Recruitment Inquiries Away From SNK To VS Studio
- May 19, 2026 Former Tekken Producer Katsuhiro Harada Launches VS Studio SNK
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Announced
- exhibiting at Licensing Japan 2026 to expand game IP business · 2026-06-17
- Announced
- opened official online store NEOGEO STYLES · 2026-05-29
- Announced
- launch of VS Studio SNK · 2026-05-19
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/snk.
CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about SNK was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed SNK produces Fatal Fury Jun 1 · source
- Confirmed opened official online store NEOGEO STYLES May 30 · source
- Confirmed launch of VS Studio SNK May 28 · source
- Confirmed snk staff change katsuhiro harada May 28 · source
- Confirmed snk produces vs studio May 28 · source
All coverage
3d ago
Kotobukiya announced a wide range of new figure prototypes and color samples at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles on July 2. The company revealed supervising prototypes for "Super Kaguya-hime!" figures of Kaguya, Tsukimi Yachiyo, and Sayori Sakayori, as well as a prototype for "Magic Knight Rayearth" Hikaru Shidou. Under the OSHI WORKS line, prototypes were shown for "Attack on Titan The Final Season" characters Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and Sasha. The new OSHI WORKS Mini brand debuted with color samples of "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. For game-related figures, Kotobukiya showed the first color sample of a 1/4 scale "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" Anis figure. OSHI WORKS Mini color samples were also displayed for "Persona 3 Reload" and "Persona 5 The Royal" protagonists, plus prototypes for "Trails" series characters Estelle Bright and Joshua Bright, and SNK characters Mai Shiranui, Angel, and Kula Diamond. Additional figures included "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" Rebecca and "Snowball Earth" Tetsuo Yabusame and Ao Nogi.
Jun 29
SNK announced The Path of the Warrior: Art of Fighting 3 R, a revamped version of the 1996 fighting game, during the Evo tournament on Sunday. The new version adds series characters King and Yuri Sakazaki and will launch on PC via Steam. No release date was given.
Jun 29
SNK announced the SWC 2026 Finals will take place November 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of DreamHack Stockholm 2026. The tournament covers five SNK fighting game titles with a combined $4.2 million prize pool across qualifiers and finals. A regional league for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was also announced.
Jun 29
SNK announced a remastered version of the 1996 fighting game "Art of Fighting: Ryuko no Ken Gaiden" at EVO 2026 on June 29. Titled "Art of Fighting: Ryuko no Ken Gaiden R," the game is part of the NEOGEO Premium Selection and will launch on PC via Steam, with release date and price to be announced. The remaster adds series staples King and Yuri Sakazaki as new playable characters, who were absent from the original. It includes balance adjustments for existing fighters and implements rollback netcode for online play. Expanded training mode and a VS mode for quick matches are also included. The original game was known for its rotoscoped pixel art, parrying, down attacks, and the Ultimate KO system, where a super move at low health ends the match. The "R" in the title stands for REIGNITE, RETUNED, and REVIVAL, and also references the initials of protagonists Ryo and Robert.
Jun 17
SNK announced on June 17 that the 1996 arcade fighting game Ninja Masters: Haoh Ninpocho will release on Steam as part of the NEOGEO Premium Selection. The Steam version adds rollback netcode for online play, a lobby for up to nine players, tournament modes, and a practice mode with speed adjustment. The game is set in the fictional country of Jipang, where 12 martial artists-including ninja, exorcists, swordsmen, and thieves-fight using a real-time weapon-to-hand-to-hand switching system. The Steam store page is open and wishlist registration has begun. The price is 2,970 yen. The game was originally developed by ADK and published by SNK. The NEOGEO Premium Selection series revives classic NEOGEO titles with new features. The release date is listed as coming soon.
Jun 17
SNK is exhibiting at Licensing Japan 2026, a trade show held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 17 to 19. The company is showcasing licensing programs for its game IPs including The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, with displays of domestic and international merchandise and collaboration examples. SNK aims to build new business partnerships and expand its multi-faceted licensing business across apparel, figures, publishing, events, and digital content.
Jun 10
SNK released an animated video for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, teasing a new character. Masami Ōbari directed, storyboarded, served as chief animation director, and acted as creative producer. Studio G-1 Neo produced the animation with Asahi Production. The video arrives as the game nears its first anniversary.
May 29
SNK opened its official online store NEOGEO STYLES on May 29, 2026, at 12:00 JST. The store launched with two Fatal Fury-themed products: a Terry Bogard 9FORTY cap made in collaboration with hat brand NEW ERA, and a product called Geese's Soy Sauce SPECIAL, which is inspired by the fan-favorite song Geese ni Shoyu. The cap and the soy sauce item are the first items available through the new storefront. SNK did not announce a full product lineup or a schedule for future releases. The store is accessible through the official SNK website. The opening coincides with ongoing promotion for the fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which was released earlier in 2026. The company has also recently announced a crossover between Fatal Fury and Fist of the North Star, bringing character Kenshiro to South Town.
May 19
Katsuhiro Harada, head of SNK subsidiary VS Studio, posted on May 15 that recruitment inquiries should go through the studio's own website, not SNK. The studio, established in May 2026 with SNK investment, is not a 100% subsidiary and has guaranteed independence. The recruitment page is under preparation, but an inquiry form is already live.
May 19
SNK announced the launch of VS Studio SNK, a new game studio led by former Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. SNK has invested in the studio as a consolidated subsidiary, and the two companies will collaborate on game software development. Harada left Bandai Namco at the end of 2025.