This year marks the 35th anniversary of Capcom's Street Fighter franchise, and the prolific Japanese publisher is celebrating in a big way. Street Fighter 6 has been revealed, and a wealth of information is being shared about its gameplay and characters. After a full console generation spent with Street Fighter 5, Street Fighter 6 looks to bring something new to the table. With a colorful spray paint aesthetic and a new Drive System that updates old mechanics, SF6 could be what the franchise needs to reclaim its throne.
The revisions to Street Fighter's iconic cast members, and some energetic new faces, are contributing to SF6's warm reception. Ryu, Chun-Li, Guile, and Luke all look great in their new outfits, and newcomer Jamie is garnering fans. Fans have picked up on another big change in the character descriptions and developer statements: Street Fighter 6 is set to be the latest game in Street Fighter's chronology, making it the first true sequel since Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike in 1999.
Street Fighter Had a Hard Time Moving Past Third Strike
Street Fighter narratives gave the various colorful fighters a reason to show up, but story was never the series' focus. Nowhere is this more apparent than the awkward situation around Street Fighter 1. It is the first game in the timeline, but Street Fighter Alpha is considered both a sequel and soft replacement. The Alpha trilogy's Japanese title, Street Fighter Zero, cements this, and is likely the result of Capcom wanting to set a better game as the series' starting point. Street Fighter 2 is set after 1 and Alpha, and Street Fighter 3 occurs a long time after that.
Street Fighter 3 used its aged setting as a reason to introduce substitutes and newcomers. The mostly new cast, combined with the SF3's initial fumbles and fighting game competition, contributed to it being a commercial failure. When Capcom returned to the franchise with Street Fighter 4, it set the game between 2 and 3 to justify old cast members returning. This was the right move for 4, but Street Fighter 5 launched as another interquel preoccupied with concluding the M. Bison Shadaloo arc for good, while setting the stage for SF3's Illuminati. Despite most of the cast having their stories develop over time, fans were getting tired of retreading the same fundamental settings.
Street Fighter 6 Takes the Story Into a New Era
In the lead-up to Street Fighter 6, fans weren't sure what to expect. DLC stories in Street Fighter 5 seemed to set up every possible direction the franchise could go, including time travel. Luke's story and role as an SF6 teaser seemed to indicate that the next game would take place after 5, but that could have also meant a retelling of 3’s battle against the Illuminati. Now that Street Fighter 6 has been revealed, Capcom confirmed that 6 takes place after 3 on Twitter.
At long last, fans will be treated to a brand-new chapter of Street Fighter history. Exact dates and ages have not been a part of Street Fighter for a long time, but the designs and attitudes of returning fighters reflect their progress. Ryu abandoning the Satsui no Hado has been reflected by his new moves and an outfit based on his master Gouken. Chun-Li is now raising the girl she adopted in Street Fighter 5’s "A Shadow Falls" story mode, and Luke has found new work as a PMC contractor. Every character has picked up some new techniques, and Jamie's backstory mentions that he was inspired by Street Fighter 3's Yun and Yang. With Shadaloo and the Illuminati absent for now, Street Fighter 6 will be stepping into a new era full of possibilities.
Street Fighter 6 will be released in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.