[gamescom asia 2024] Takayuki Nakayama and Shuhei Matsumoto Share the Future and Evolution of Street Fighter 6

We had the opportunity to interview Street Fighter 6 Director Takayuki Nakayama and Producer Shuhei Matsumoto during gamescom asia 2024 in a group session. The responses were provided through translator Jessica from Capcom Japan, who relayed the developers’ thoughts in a third-person perspective. The interview shed light on the game’s development, character choices, and the team’s vision for the future of the Street Fighter franchise.

Expanding Beyond Combat

One of the key focuses for Street Fighter 6 was expanding the game’s appeal beyond just fighting. Nakayama emphasized their effort to bolster the characters’ experiences and stories, allowing players to enjoy the game without solely focusing on combat.

“He wanted to really focus on this time as well, not only fighting the fighting portions, but the characters and focusing on making a game where you could have fun with the actual game without having to necessarily only focus on the fighting portions,” Jessica conveyed.

She further elaborated, “So focusing on bolstering the character’s experience and the stories to make sure that the users had a great experience in playing the game without necessarily having to only be fighting all the time.”

This approach marks a significant shift in the series’ design philosophy. While previous iterations primarily centered on the fighting aspect, Street Fighter 6 aims to create a more holistic experience. By deepening character stories and offering engaging non-combat activities, the game seeks to appeal to a broader audience, including those who might be intimidated by the competitive nature of fighting games.

Crossover Characters and Historical Ties

The inclusion of crossover characters from the Fatal Fury series, namely Terry and Mai, was revealed to have deep historical roots.

“Street Fighter and Fatal Fury as a series have a lot of history together,” Jessica explained. “Capcom and SNK are both based in Osaka. Not only is there a lot of affinity with the original creator being the same, but the fact that they are so close in proximity. The development teams of both series are actually very good friends, and they are very close in general.”

She added, “This time, they just really wanted to collaborate, and boost the excitement and love that they have for both series, and share it with all the fans of both series. This is a joint collaboration decision that was made due to the close relations between the two development teams.”

The decision to include Terry and Mai wasn’t just about adding popular characters; it was about celebrating the shared legacy of these iconic franchises. It’s a testament to the rich history of fighting games and the close-knit nature of the development community in Osaka.

Community Engagement and Street Fighter 6 Content Creators

Regarding the recent trend of content creator-led tournaments featuring non-professional players, the team expressed enthusiasm. “They’re very glad that it has,” the translator stated.

“It’s really helped to meld together the fighting game community and normal content players, and then spreading out to gamers in general, which they think is really awesome.”

The team further elaborated, “Ever since the end of Street Fighter V, it’s been something that they’ve been thinking about. They’re happy that it could happen and hoping that it could spread even more going into Street Fighter VI. They’re very glad that it has.”

The developers highlighted the positive impact of events like the CR Cup, where professional players teach content creators. “For instance, with CR Cup, you have people who are being taught by pro players, and then creating content from that as well,” Jessica explained.

This approach has created a bridge between the professional scene and casual players, fostering a more inclusive community. It’s not just about high-level competitive play anymore; it’s about creating a welcoming environment for players of all skill levels. This shift in community dynamics has helped Street Fighter 6 reach a wider audience and maintain its relevance in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.

Character Development for Other Games

When asked about the development of Chun-Li and Ken for SNK’s “City of Wolves,” the Street Fighter team confirmed their involvement in the process.

“They’ll definitely have a lot of deep conversations about the development and helping as much as possible to make sure that they are true to having the Street Fighter because they’re Street Fighter characters, but at the same time, also maximizing the collaboration effect of them appearing in City of the Wolves,” Jessica relayed.

She added, “The devs of Street Fighter themselves are pretty involved in the development of Chun-Li and Ken in the game in terms of they have a lot of conversations, like maybe the SNK side will say, well, how about this and that, and suggestions and stuff, and they’ll definitely have a lot of deep conversations about the development and helping as much as possible.”

This collaborative effort showcases the care and attention given to these iconic characters, even when they appear in games developed by other studios. The Street Fighter team’s involvement ensures that Chun-Li and Ken remain true to their roots while adapting to a new gaming environment. This approach not only maintains character integrity but also enhances the crossover appeal, potentially attracting fans from both franchises to explore new gaming experiences.

Fan Feedback and Development

On the topic of fan feedback and its impact on development, the team clarified that the eSports scene and game development timelines rarely align for immediate changes.

“Even if something were to happen in the community at the time, it’s pretty much too late to have an actual effect on the game itself because everything has already been developed,” the translator explained.

However, they don’t ignore feedback entirely. Jessica added, “But what they do is, just in general, when they go on SNS and various social media to see everybody’s feedback, so not just pro players, but also just players in general, people will be saying, oh, there’s bugs, or this stuff is kind of happening, and they’ll take into account just general feedback to make sure that the game is as polished and as best as it can be.”

This balancing act between adhering to a development schedule and responding to community needs highlights the complex nature of modern game development, especially for a title with such a dedicated and vocal fanbase as Street Fighter.

Character Selection Process in Street Fighter 6 

The developers also shared insights into their character selection process for Street Fighter 6.

“Whether or not they’re popular they also consider that as a factor. And game mechanics, because each character can be finely tuned in the newest iteration to match the balance that’s needed for the entire game, it’s probably, when comparing the two, the character is actually more prioritized than the game mechanics,” Jessica conveyed.

She further explained, “So when you’re comparing the two, the character or the game mechanics they do tend to prioritize the character. Whether it makes sense for the character to come back in this iteration timeline wise and also background wise.”

This revelation provides a fascinating glimpse into the decision-making process behind character inclusion. While popularity plays a role, the team prioritizes how well a character fits into the current game’s narrative and timeline. This approach ensures that the roster feels cohesive and relevant to the overall story of Street Fighter 6, rather than just being a collection of fan-favorite characters.

Future of Classic Games

Looking to the future, both Nakayama and Matsumoto expressed a desire to bring back more classic Capcom fighting games.

“As we speak right now, they are also working on bringing back as many games as possible that have been out in the past that are no longer playable to make sure that it’s on as many playable platforms as possible in the future,” the translator stated.

The team acknowledged the challenges involved, particularly with crossover titles. “The producer himself does want to bring back every past game, if possible, but there are certain limitations that can happen, especially with games like in the Versus series, it’s not just Capcom. So, then, of course, there’s a lot of hurdles that you have to jump through, and physical limitations as well, in terms of which hardware, which version of the past game to bring back on, which hardware, stuff like that.”

This commitment to preserving and reviving classic titles is great news for long-time fans of Capcom’s fighting game legacy. Despite these hurdles, the developers’ enthusiasm for making these classics accessible on modern platforms showcases their dedication to the genre’s history and their respect for the fanbase’s nostalgia.

Potential New Street Fighter 6 Mechanics

Regarding potential new mechanics for Street Fighter 6, the team seemed cautious but open to the possibility.

“So, he does think about it, but maybe not so much in the near future, but maybe in the future it’s something that’s possible,” Jessica relayed.

The director added a humorous note, as conveyed by Jessica: “So, the director was saying, isn’t there already so many new mechanics? Wouldn’t it be really difficult for people to balance everything if they add more?”

This measured response indicates that while the team is always thinking about ways to innovate, they’re also mindful of not overwhelming players with too many new systems at once. Street Fighter 6 already introduced several new mechanics, and the focus seems to be on refining and balancing these existing elements before considering major additions. This approach ensures that the game remains accessible to newcomers while still offering depth for veteran players.

The interview provided valuable insights into the development philosophy behind Street Fighter 6 and the series’ future direction, highlighting the team’s commitment to both innovation and preserving the franchise’s legacy.

Street Fighter 6

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Release Date: 2023-06-02

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Here comes Capcom’s newest challenger! Street Fighter™ 6 launches worldwide on June 2nd, 2023 and represents the next evolution of the Street Fighter™ series! Street Fighter 6 spans three distinct game modes, including World Tour, Fighting Ground and Battle Hub.

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