The first entry in SNK Playmore's developer's blog was just translated by NeoGAF forum member Varion. In it, game design director Yamamoto talks about the various systems that we can expect to see in The King of Fighters XIII. Here are some of the highlights -

on how XIII will feel more like earlier entries in the series:

With KOF13, we're aiming to make a game that fans of the series can play comfortably and use their experience of the series. This is the reason for reintroducing systems like throw break and guard cancel. On the other hand, we don't want the game to be a simple copy of previous games in the series. We want to make a game that captures the fun and charm of the series. In other words, the development team is trying to develop a game overflowing in 'KOFism'.

on making the power gauge more useful for offensive players:

However, to be a little blunt, in former games in the series there was a tendency for the defensive systems that were easier to use. For example, take the ability to save up a power gauge during combat. You could use that power gauge to execute a super special move, but it would turn the flow more to your advantage to wait for your opponent's attack and counter with a guard cancel, then start your attack from there. When that happened, you get a style of play where players are constantly waiting for the other's move, and the good tempo of the series can be spoilt. As a result, this time we're making it so that using the power gauge as an attack system can also lead to your advantage in a match. We'd like it if you thought of the EX Special Move and EX Super Special Moves like this.

on the new Hyperdrive mode:

Referring to the movie on the official site here too, Kyo uses Oniyaki cancelled into a Nanajuugoshiki Kai to launch the opponent into the air and then continues attacking. Hyperdrive mode really widens the breath for chains, and EX moves can be included as well, so the player can experiment with all kinds of combos.