The King of Fighters '98 Joins SNK World Championship 2026 with a $100,000 Prize Pool

The organizers of the SNK World Championship (SWC) 2026 have announced a significant update to their official tournament lineup. While the event was initially revealed in December with four main titles —Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, The King of Fighters XV, Samurai Shodown, and Art of Fighting 3— the inclusion of The King of Fighters ’98 into SNK's 2026 competitive circuit was confirmed this past weekend.

Prize Pool for The King of Fighters ’98 (KOF 98) at SNK World Championship (SWC) 2026

With the announcement of KOF 98's integration into SWC 2026, the tournament's financial structure has undergone an adjustment. Similar to the Art of Fighting 3 tournament, players competing in The King of Fighters ’98 will vie for a prize pool of up to $100,000 USD. This addition boosts the SNK World Championship's total prize fund for 2026 from $4,100,000 USD to $4,200,000 USD.

The SNK World Championship (SWC) 2026 is Already Underway

The SWC 2026 schedule is already in motion. The initial phase of the tournament commenced on January 29 during the Frosty Faustings event, and more recently, Texas Showdown 2026 took place, featuring KOF XV and Fatal Fury City of the Wolves.

Regarding the registration format, the SNK World Championship (SWC) 2026 organizers have clarified that —much like the Art of Fighting tournament— The King of Fighters ’98 will adopt an open format. This means any interested player can register and participate directly in the final SNK World Championship (SWC) 2026 event, without any prior qualification restrictions.

Originally released in 1998, the game will soon celebrate its 28th anniversary in the market. Its inclusion in SWC 2026 is a nod to its dedicated player base, which continues to maintain consistent competitive activity to this day. Promotional materials for the event describe this move as the return of one of the franchise's most recognized installments.