Why weren't Zankuro, Mizuki, Sieger, Gaira, Kuroko etc. added?

[You Kissed a Boy and Liked It]

...While non-Samshow characters -- some of very dubious justification, regarding their 'meritorious' place in the roster of this long-awaited, series reboot -- litter the game?

Of particular note, Neinhalt Sieger was reported the lead developer's favourite character (as he also happens to be for me) -- a character that he allegedly said he wanted in the base, pre-DLC roster of the game... Yet, it's turned out that that character will never appear in the game -- period.

It raises the question: Who was in charge of the roster selection process at SNK? Was it even SNK making these decisions...?

Patently, misguided or otherwise, the perceived monetary motivation for the now cynical trope of the fighting game genre, of cross-pollinating of chars. between franchises, is self-explanatory -- when it comes to the For Honour drone, and the final char. added to the game, Baiken. However, this does not explain the 'curious' additions, like the non-samurais -- examples: the weird, ditsy, Chinese girl wielding a shield; the blatant coomer fodder lass sporting an[other] umbrella...

Is it proof positive that the developers were not, in fact, in charge of the char. selection process -- given that, even the head developer was denied the inclusion of his favourite character? Or, is that the brains trust at said concern are now so detached from the fan base, that they miscalculated as they did, on their own volition? Was it that the game was not even targeted at fans of the franchise -- instead, for example, at the Chinese market? Or, was is that someone else, outside of SNK (Epic? Tencent?), were making the calls on who was to be included in the roster...?

Sidebar:
I still chuckle to myself at the obligatory parade of apologists who, soon after launch, and again, after the first tranche of DLC, would bleat that ignorant refrain of, "Oh! [Insert character] cannot be in the roster, because [insert some asinine canonical reference to the time period in which they perceive the game was being set]" -- only to then have some of those very same chars. which they inanely claimed could not appear in the game, then be included; together with chars. that aren't even of the same universe!... As if these games weren't just a piece of entertainment-fiction, and could not sport whatever content those profiting from them, chose... *cough VADER IN SOUL CALIBUR cough* 🙄

[Jacowboy]

Originally posted by You Kissed a Boy and Liked It:

Of particular note, Neinhalt Sieger was reported the lead developer's favourite character (as he also happens to be for me)

Actually, it was Nicotine, not Sieger...

Also, there's no cause for wonder, it's pretty simple: T&A waifus = money... there you go, you character selection process... xD

[Louco Diamante]

I want Gean, Sieger, Zankuro and Kuroko too for next season

[You Kissed a Boy and Liked It]

Originally posted by Louco Diamante:

I for next season

Is this an an actual, officially announced thing?... Or, just pie-in-the-sky wet dreams?

'Cause, with KoFXV out early next year, and its roster still in flux (as well as likely, ensuing DLC support), I don't see SNK delegating much (read: any more) development time to SS... 🤔

To-do list:
- more characters
- more stages (at least, one for each roster member)
- add a "Rage Gauge" charge mechanic (a la SSIII)
- option to remove "guts", and even damage scaling

If they do the above, the game will be a worthy successor. If they leave it as is, I won't expect to see another SS game for a decade or more.

[Louco Diamante]

tag battle mode would do great for a twist