Publisher Ignition Entertainment today officially announced that The King of Fighters XII, the twelfth installment in SNK’s long-running fighting franchise, will hit North America and Europe 2009.

The King of Fighters XII features high-resolution 2D graphics, drawn entirely by hand, complemented by stunning 2D backdrops. Look out for a firm release date, along with all the nitty gritty gameplay details and new screenshots in the coming months.

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