Killer Instinct hits Steam with Xbox One and Windows 10 cross-play

Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct (Image credit: Microsoft)

Killer Instinct, the 2013 reboot of the iconic fighting series, has made its way to Steam today after nearly four years of exclusivity to Microsoft's Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms. Following its release on the world's biggest PC game storefront, a new group of players can jump into the action alongside all post-launch content.

Although a free version of the game is offered through Microsoft's platforms, the latest Steam release is only available as a part of a paid bundle, priced at $39.99. Like the existing Definitive Edition, Steam players will gain access to all three seasons of content, ranging from 29 characters, 20 stages and all costumes/colors. However, marking the game's latest launch, players can get started for 25 percent off the standard retail price.

Furthermore, with parity between the Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam releases, all three platforms can now take advantage of cross-platform multiplayer. While limited to certain modes, this is a notable step for Microsoft, continuing to embrace cross-play with external ecosystems. However, Xbox Play Anywhere still offered solely in-house, meaning your progress and purchases can't transfer to and from a Steam copy.

Alongside today's announcement, Microsoft Studios also announced that Killer Instinct has hit 10 million players total across Xbox One and Windows 10 – a number that will only grow with this latest release.

Are you planning to pick up Killer Instinct on Steam? Or does the lack of a free-to-play option mean you'll be sticking to Xbox One and Windows 10? As always, make sure to drop your thoughts in the comments.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.