When word first got out that twelve characters slated as DLC for Street Fighter X Tekken are already included in the game's retail release, the reaction from fans was sharply negative for a couple of reasons. First, the new characters won't be available to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners until the Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken releases much later in the year. Second, unlocking those twelve on-disc characters is going to cost players another $20.00.
Perhaps inevitably, a small number of disgruntled gamers have responded with illicit action -- Street Fighter X Tekken has been hacked, and the locked DLC characters have been spotted in online matches.
Almost immediately after Capcom revealed the prices for Street Fighter X Tekken's DLC, reports began to circle that the game's locked characters -- Blanka, Cody, Dudley, Elena, Guy, Alisa Bosconovitch, Bryan Fury, Christie Monteiro, Jack, Lars Alexandersson and Lei Wulong -- were being used in matches over Xbox Live. One fan, going by the name Razum, took to the Capcom Unity message boards after squaring off against an opponent using Blanka.
"Just like the topic title says. Encountered a guy playing Blanka earlier tonight."
"Capcom, I've come to accept the DLC stuff in regards to these characters. The fact that your loyal customers who bought the game and are willing to by those characters right now are instead getting taunted by pirates online who hacked to unlock them for free is a bit beyond ridiculous."
In short order, Capcom Senior Vice-President Christian Svensson offered a reply.
"Yes, we're seeing news of this. Quite ballsy for folks to be taking hacked Xbox 360s on Live where they are detectable."
"In any event, we already have openned channels of communication with MS on these issues Friday night. If you can capture screens or video of this in action (as some have already) we're working on bans for boxes and accounts with MS for haxxors."
Svensson ultimately closed the thread, telling posters "We'll catch them ourselves. Thanks to those who helped." Nevertheless, video of the hacked characters has been posted on YouTube. This example comes from user kemtox.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te43_E88MNU&feature=player_embedded#!
The hacked DLC is yet another unfortunate development in an increasingly unfortunate situation. Svensson has already acknowledged miscommunication over the Street Fighter X Tekken DLC. The question now is, what is Capcom willing to do to make things right with fans? At the very least, making the on-disc characters available for purchase now rather than months in the future seems a prudent course of action, though there is no indication from Capcom that such a consideration is even on the table.
What do you think, Ranters -- is there any way for Capcom to turn this situation around?
Street Fighter X Tekken is available now for Xbox 360 and PS3, and is due for Vita later this year.
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Source: Capcom Unity [via VG 24/7], kemtox [via Gamespot]