Ahead of New York Comic Con, Dynamite Entertainment has announced that they will increase their line of video game tie-in products with the launch of a new comic series based on the video game franchise "Killer Instinct." The franchise will return to comics in 2017 with a new series published by Dynamite.

As Earnest Yuen, Executive Producer for Killer Instinct at Microsoft, said in the announcement, the latest expansion "Shadow Lords" establishes that the game's cast "has some fantastic back stories and there are still more stories to be told." Yuen added that they are "incredibly excited" to work with Dynamite to "expand upon the KI universe in the upcoming comic series."

"We are thrilled to enter into a partnership with Microsoft Studios with Killer Instinct," said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. "As we continue to expand our line of video game tie-in titles, Killer Instinct is a perfect choice with great characters to explore and expand upon. The comics will be the beginning of a publishing program, which we will announce more details around soon! I think fans will be very pleased with what we have coming."

Developed by Rare, "Killer Instinct" debuted as an arcade fighting game in 1994 and later made a big debut on the SNES. Acclaim Comics previously published a "Killer Instinct" limited series in 1996. Double Helix Games rebooted "Killer Instinct" in 2013 under Microsoft Studios and helped launch the Xbox One. Since its relaunch, "Killer Instinct" has become one of Xbox One's most popular games with downloads totaling over seven million.

More announcements regarding Dynamite's "Killer Instinct" series are on the way, and the title is expected to launch in the latter half of 2017.

Official Press Release

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT AND MICROSOFT STUDIOS ANNOUNCE KILLER INSTINCT PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP!

PUBLISHING PROGRAM AND SERIES LAUNCH IN 2017!

October 3, 2016, Mt. Laurel, NJ: In a deal brokered by leading global brand extension agency Beanstalk, Dynamite Entertainment is expanding its line of video game tie-in products with the acquisition Microsoft's Xbox One franchise, Killer Instinct!

Resurrected as a launch title for the Xbox One in 2013, Killer Instinct is a fighting game which first saw an expansion into comic book storytelling alongside the release of the original game in 1994. Now, Dynamite Entertainment and Microsoft announce the game's return to comics in 2017!

Killer Instinct is one of the most downloaded Xbox One franchises, totaling over seven million unique users, and clocking over three billion collective minutes of gameplay since its launch in 2013!

"We are thrilled to enter into a partnership with Microsoft Studios with Killer Instinct," says Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. "As we continue to expand our line of video game tie-in titles, Killer Instinct is a perfect choice with great characters to explore and expand upon. The comics will be the beginning of a publishing program, which we will announce more details around soon! I think fans will be very pleased with what we have coming."

"Comics is something the Killer Instinct fans have asked for again and again since launch. With the release of our newest expansion, Shadow Lords, players can see that the Killer Instinct cast has some fantastic back stories and there are still more stories to be told," says Earnest Yuen, Executive Producer for Killer Instinct at Microsoft. "We love Dynamite Entertainment's work and our team is incredibly excited to have them as a partner to expand upon the KI universe in the upcoming comic series."

"I played Killer Instinct back in its original incarnation and I was always impressed with the great character designs and interesting world that they had built out from the start," said Dynamite Director of Business Development Rich Young. "This is a game that has a rich history now... and they keep adding to it with more cool characters and game features on a regular basis, which is helping it gain even more fans. I've spoken a couple times with the KI team, and their passion really comes through, so I already know we're going to create some amazing work here. It's going to be a very fun world to play around in!"

Look for further details on Dynamite Entertainment's Killer Instinct publishing program to be announced in the coming months, with the comic series making its debut in the latter half of 2017.