Street Fighter 6is still going strong after solidifying its reputation via consistent updates in a revitalized competitive scene, and the success of recent collaborations between Capcom and SNK. WithVirtua Fighter 6’s franchise return now having been announced at The Game Awards 2024, Sega has an opportunity to elevate its own flagship fighting game to a similar status. Although the release ofVF6is likely some time away, its existence already presents an exciting chance to crossover withStreet Fighter 6in a groundbreaking union between subgenres.
Fatal Fury’s Mai Shiranui joiningStreet Fighter 6in early 2025 after Terry before her serves as the latest example of the ongoing work between two companies that were once rivals in the days of arcades. WithKen and Chun-Li set to appear inFatal Fury: City of the Wolvesin a mirrored effort, there seems to be a practically unprecedented cooperative attitude at Capcom. IfVirtua Fighter 6can be treated with similar regard for its characters, the same treatment inSF6would only further cement the success of the decade’s fighting game revival.
A Collaboration Between Street Fighter 6 and Virtua Fighter 6 Could Go Both Ways
The Potential for Interplay Within a Shared New Era
BothSF6andVF6represent new directions for their respective series, at the very least on an undeniable aesthetic level.Akira Yuki’s appearance in theVirtua Fighter 6reveal trailerhints at the passage of time necessitating a revamped take on his world, whileSFfans have already grown accustomed to a more mature Ryu and the likes of fresh faces such as Luke or Kimberly. This parallel could make the two titles natural fits for exchanging guest characters, as both of their old and new guards would probably have similar importance.
Capcom’s Admirable Support for Rising Contemporaries
SNK and Sega obviously aren’t small or new companies, but their flagship fighting game franchises don’t share the mainstream recognition ofStreet Fighter. The recentFFcollaboration inSF6has boosted that series' profile ahead ofCotW’s release, and the same marketing benefit could easily apply toVF. AlthoughVirtua Fighter 5’s numerous rereleaseshave kept its name alive in a more niche capacity, the massive audience that Capcom has maintained could yield a far greater degree of interest.
How a Crossover with Virtua Fighter Could Make Up for One Area of Disappointment Among Street Fighter Fans
It would take a more dramatic transition to bring a member ofVirtua Fighter’s cast into the 2D environment ofSF, but this would also establish a relationship that gives hope to a lost concept that once held major hype. On top of being unexpected in the wake of theofficial cancellation ofTekken X Street Fighter, another guest character trade leading to a character like Ryu or Luke in 3D would be a groundbreaking callback to the days ofStreet Fighter EX. IfVF’s roster can resonate in the stylized art style of Capcom, then translating the likes of Guile into a highly realistic aesthetic could elevate the status of 3D fighters far beyond the monolith ofTekken.
There’s an inherent risk of diluting the identity of either franchise when it comes to challenging their core mechanics through guests, but examples like Geese Howard andAkuma inTekken 7show that these bold collaborations tend to have a net positive impact within the genre. If their gameplay can be designed with respect to their origins and the balance ofStreet Fighter 6’s meta alike, thenVirtua Fightercharacters making it into the game could honor the rich legacies of both names for years to come.
Street Fighter 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Play legendary masters and new fan favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li, Luke, Jamie, Kimberly and more in this latest edition with each character featuring striking new redesigns and exhilarating cinematic specials.Dominate the Fighting Ground: Street Fighter 6 offers a highly evolved combat system with three control types - Classic, Modern and Dynamic - allowing you to quickly play to your skill level.The new Real Time Commentary Feature adds all the hype of a competitive match as well as easy-to-understand explanations about your gameplay. The Drive Gauge is a new system to manage your resources. Use it wisely to claim victory.Explore the Streets in World Tour: Discover the meaning of strength in World Tour, an immersive, single-player story mode. Take your avatar and explore Metro City and beyond. Meet Masters who will take you under their wing and teach you their style and techniques.Seek Rivals in the Battle Hub: The Battle Hub represents a core mode of Street Fighter 6 where players can gather and communicate, and become stronger together. Use the avatar you create in World Tour to check out cabinets on the Battle Hub floor and play against other players, or head over to the Game Center to enjoy some of Capcom’s classic arcade games.
