Sega’s Virtua Fighter series is one of the pillars of the fighting game genre and a franchise I’ve adored for over 30 years. While the series birthed the 3D fighting game sub-genre and paved the way for the likes of Tekken and Dead or Alive, it hasn’t received a truly new entry since 2006’s Virtua Fighter 5. Nearly 20 years later, Sega is finally going to deliver the follow-up that I and other fans have longed for.
Announced during 2024’s The Game Awards, the New Virtua Fighter Project (as it’s currently called) aims to resurrect the classic franchise with cutting-edge graphics and fluid gameplay reminiscent of a Kung Fu movie. We’ve only gotten small glimpses via concept videos and behind-the-scenes interviews, but it’s clear that Virtua Fighter 6 (as I’ll refer to it here) wants to ramp up the realism while also being an enjoyable game for everyone.
I spoke with Virtua Fighter 6 producer Riichiro Yamada, who graciously answered some of my burning questions. The game is still in early development, so there were some things we couldn’t go in-depth about. Regardless, speaking with Yamada-san got me even more excited for the next Virtua Fighter. If things go right, this game could shake up the fighting game world.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Resurrecting Virtua Fighter
Sega has released Virtua Fighter 5 several times, with the most notable being Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown in 2020. This version is a full-on remake of the original game, built on RGG Studios' Dragon Engine. Thanks to its online component, the game became popular worldwide, which paved the way for Virtua Fighter 6.
"Since this would be a brand-new game and not a remake, there were discussions about how to do it right."
— Riichiro Yamada, Sega
Yamada-san told me that Sega had discussed resurrecting Virtua Fighter before this, but for one reason or another, it never manifested into a game. “I don’t know the full details of what happened in the past,” said Yamada, “but that’s my understanding.” Of course, things changed after Ultimate Showdown.
“When Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown became a global launch and was successful, Sega felt it was time to bring the series back. That’s when the new Virtua Fighter Project began. Since this would be a brand-new game and not a remake, there were discussions about how to do it right. These internal discussions probably took around two to three years.”
Innovating the genre
Based on old interviews I had read, Sega reportedly didn’t want to bring Virtua Fighter back unless it could deliver some sort of innovation to the fighting game genre. That’s a tall order, but it’s something each previous entry had accomplished, either with the original Virtua Fighter’s 3D graphics or Virtua Fighter 3’s uneven terrain, to name some examples.
“Innovation has been very important for the franchise,” Yamada-san said. “Because of that, my goal was to make a fighting game that feels new to veterans and newcomers. I wanted something new and something big.”
One of those big things that stood out to me from the trailers is how characters block. Characters don’t just remain static when blocking; they dynamically block individual attacks. That’s not something I see in most fighting games.
"Dynamic blocking is one way to make this game stand out from others and introduce an element of flash you haven’t seen."
— Riichiro Yamada, Sega
“I wanted movement in the new Virtua Fighter to look and feel cool, like in a Kung Fu movie," Yamada said. "I want battles to have an element of flow, and the same is true for blocking. Dynamic blocking is one way to make this game stand out from others and introduce an element of flash you haven’t seen.”
Regarding “flashiness,” one thing that has always differentiated Virtua Fighter from its competitors is that it doesn’t have combatants blasting each other with fireballs or colorful sparks when attacks land. Being dramatic like a Kung Fu movie will instantly set Virtua Fighter 6 apart from its flashier rivals.
Telling a story
While I love Virtua Fighter, I’ll be the first to admit that the series doesn't have a proper story. Sure, most folks don’t play fighting games to get lost in a riveting tale, but even franchises like Street Fighter and especially Mortal Kombat have some kind of plot tying the games together. For the most part, the Virtua Fighter characters’ only motivations are to fight strong opponents.
"Even though we are focusing more on gameplay and game design, we will have a stronger narrative with the new Virtua Fighter Project."
— Riichiro Yamada, Sega
If you’ve played any of the Like a Dragon (aka Yakuza) games, then you know these games have strong narratives and characters. Given that, it’s natural to wonder if Virtua Fighter 6 will have a great focus on narrative.
“I really want to emphasize gameplay," Yamada said. "Without good gameplay, people won’t continue playing your game. So we’re really concentrating most on that aspect of the game. That’s the key element.
“But as you said, this game is from the same studio that produces Yakuza, and they’re very good at narratives. I would like RGG fans to also play our game. Even though we are focusing more on gameplay and game design, we will have a stronger narrative with the new Virtua Fighter Project.”
A Virtua Fighter 6 trailer spotlighting Wolf Hawkfield has more story in it than all previous games combined. We learn that the fighter (who has clearly aged since Virtua Fighter 5) used to be part of a wrestling team called “The Wolf Pack” before going solo. The leg brace he wears lets you know Wolf’s wrestling career has taken a toll on his body. Even small elements like this give us more insight into the characters.
Now, I can’t say whether or not Jeffry McWild will finally catch the infamous “Satan Shark,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if Virtua Fighter 6 follows up on this rare piece of lore. Regardless, I’m eager to see how Studio RGG will flesh out the characters and what the plot of Virtua Fighter 6 could be.
Aspirations for the franchise
The world of fighting games has drastically changed since Virtua Fighter 5 released in the mid-2000s. Though Ultimate Showdown has proven that the franchise is still viable, the new game faces stiff competition from more well-established franchises. Despite that, Yamada-san has big ambitions for Virtua Fighter 6.
"I want other fighting game developers to see what we’re doing and copy us."
— Riichiro Yamada
"Virtua Fighter has a long history," he said. "We are one of the pioneers of the fighting game genre. Because of that, I want to put Virtua Fighter in a position where people look at it and are impressed by its unique style. I want other fighting game developers to see what we’re doing and copy us. I want to get to that level when it comes to 3D fighting games.”
That’s a bold statement, but not entirely unwarranted. After all, the 3D fighting game genre wouldn’t be what it is without Virtua Fighter. Even Tekken, which is a fantastic series in its own right, owes a lot to the innovations Virtua Fighter first introduced. But despite its historic significance, Virtua Fighter will still have to earn its spot among the current fighting game giants.
“There are a lot of popular fighting games right now, so it will take time, and it won’t be easy to get to where I want," Yamada said. "I want to be in a position where it will be very difficult for others to copy what we’re doing since we’re so far ahead of everyone else. That’s my biggest aspiration for this game.”
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