Virtua Fighter’s Previous, Current, And Future, In accordance To The Folks Accountable

It feels prefer it’s by no means been a greater time to be a Virtua Fighter fan. I’ve liked this collection since its inception, and seeing it once more at Evo 2025 after a prolonged absence felt unbelievable. Each Virtua Fighter 5 REVO and the upcoming new Virtua Fighter recreation had been closely showcased on the occasion, and the sense of pleasure across the collection within the combating recreation neighborhood and past has by no means felt stronger.

With each the present and upcoming video games featured on the present, we had the chance to speak with Seiji Aoki, the lead of Sega’s Legacy Virtua Fighter group, and Riichiro Yamada, who’s producing the New Virtua Fighter Challenge.

One among Sega’s bulletins at EVO was the discharge date for the PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S variations of VF5 REVO, now titled VF5 REVO World Stage. The title is not only a multiplatform rebrand–it might be receiving a number of recent updates like cross-platform play, with the crown jewel being a brand-new, devoted single-player expertise akin to the Quest Modes seen in previous Virtua Fighter video games.

I have been persistently shocked on the quantity of effort Aoki and his group have been placing into updating and revitalizing this traditional title, and seeing the brand new single-player mode was a transparent signal that they’d been listening to participant suggestions for such an addition. However there’s nonetheless one factor I wanted to know: What about all the additional character customization gadgets and decorations from Virtua Fighter 5 Closing Showdown that hadn’t made their approach into REVO?

“We have heard from gamers that they need extra of the gadgets they noticed within the earlier releases,” Aoki mentioned. “So, in World Stage mode, there’s a event. As you proceed, you’ll earn a few of these customization gadgets. I do really feel like there must be extra new gadgets, however for now, there are not any plans.”

A component the place the Virtua Fighter groups have been stepping up their recreation has been neighborhood engagement. Apart from opening an official Discord and working a worldwide event collection, the group has additionally been polling gamers on topics like what controllers they use, what sort of levels they dislike, and–most prominently–a world character recognition ballot, with the outcomes displayed on the official VF web site.

I requested Aoki if the polls supplied up any surprises. “We did do the ballot across the time the primary event for VF5 REVO was held in Chicago, at Frosty Faustings. Seeing the gamers there, I actually felt that the characters which can be comparatively unpopular in Japan are typically common within the West. For instance, Aoi was fairly common, Brad was highly regarded, Eileen was highly regarded. These Western characters normally aren’t on the highest of the listing in Japan. In Japan, it is extra like Akira, Jacky, Pai, [and] Sarah. It was fascinating to see, and I feel that was mirrored within the ballot as effectively.”

With the launch of VF5 REVO got here the sport’s first main stability replace in over a decade. Does the group use issues like polls, on-line play information, and different analytics to determine on gameplay tweaks?

“We’re probably not interested by issues like who to make weaker or stronger, however to place everybody on an analogous degree,” Aoki replied. “How will we stability characters and maintain what makes them distinct? Beforehand, a variety of gamers mentioned that Taka-Arashi was too sturdy. However we tried to not make him particularly a lot weaker, however deliver everybody to his degree.”

Aoki additionally says that additional tweaking is unlikely within the close to future. “There are not any plans for modifications proper now. However as time passes, we would get to a degree the place we are saying, ‘Oh, perhaps we must always make some stability modifications, when the timing is correct.’ However in the intervening time, there are not any plans. At the moment, I really feel just like the gameplay is in a whole state, however we’ll see the way it goes.”

Whereas Virtua Fighter titles have appeared as sub-games in lots of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon titles, an official collection compilation has by no means occurred. I questioned if Aoki’s legacy Virtua Fighter group had ever thought-about doing a Capcom Combating Assortment-style launch of Virtua Fighter and comparable Sega combating video games, such because the Combating Vipers collection and Final Bronx. “I’ve positively seen these compilations and thought, ‘We must always do one thing like that.’ …By doing that, we may deliver again the outdated followers along with bringing in new followers. It is one thing to think about.”

Whereas VF5 REVO had a full event as a part of the Evo Prolonged Lineup, what many VF gamers on the occasion had been hoping to see was the New Virtua Fighter Challenge. Sega didn’t disappoint, with a gameplay showcase trailer within the Evo Area on finals day debuting to cheers and awestruck gasps (and my frenzied screams of enjoyment). With my anticipation persevering with at a fever pitch, I used to be keen to speak with producer Riichiro Yamada concerning the upcoming recreation.

Although solely a choose few characters have been proven to this point, people who have, equivalent to Akira and Wolf, have seen some huge modifications to their look. Additionally they look markedly older, doubtlessly indicating the passage of time within the VF world. I requested Yamada if he may inform us a bit extra about these modifications. “We will not say a lot simply but, however sure, the time has handed on. The setting for VF5 was roughly across the yr 2006. This recreation isn’t a parallel world or an alternate universe–it’s based mostly on a sure timeline.”

Yamada additionally elaborated on how they’re approaching character design this time round: “So up till now, the characters have been designed based mostly on their fight model, with a brief backstory for every character. We’re redesigning them now based mostly on their life-style, why they’re combating, what they’re combating for. That is the brand new method that we have been taking.”

Some of the talked-about components of what is been proven so far–and that is been producing much more buzz with the Evo gameplay showcase trailer–has been the realism and fluidity of the fight animation, with particulars like characters having distinct guarding animations for particular assaults. “We actually need individuals to have the ability to see the modifications that we have made,” says Yamada. “Virtua Fighter up till now may need been seen as very plain, not very flashy. Nevertheless, we do not wish to change it up too drastically–we desire a cool, flashy sense of realism. Change it, however do not lose the essence.”

“Within the course of of making this recreation, I am at all times considering, ‘What can we progress? What can we evolve? What can we make enhancements on?’ Once I was a toddler, I used to look at kung-fu films. These films make individuals and their fight look very thrilling. I actually needed to deliver that component into the game–the circulate, just like the smoothness, all of the issues I used to see in these traditional kung-fu films, , make individuals excited by watching these. That is the method I have been taking proper now.”

“Earlier than we launched these trailers, I did not know the way the customers would reply,” he continues. “However seeing everybody having fun with it, I am actually relieved to see that gamers are excited.”

In comparison with different combating video games, Virtua Fighter’s management scheme is extra simplistic, with three important buttons and abilities executed with directional actions. Just one recreation within the series–Virtua Fighter 3–significantly altered the management scheme by including a fourth button. With the brand new Virtua Fighter making some clear visible modifications, I questioned if the sport would attempt something new with the management scheme. “We’re making an attempt a variety of various things as we’re fleshing out gameplay,” Yamada answered. “However VF began as an arcade recreation, with intentionally easy controls. Punch-kick-guard is simple for gamers to understand. So whereas I can not give specifics, the idea that I bear in mind is ‘anybody can play anybody can play simply, with none stress.'”

This being a recreation by Ryu ga Gotoku Studio–a group recognized for its storytelling prowess and character-building–many expect a heavy emphasis on story this time round in comparison with earlier titles. “Beforehand, VF lacked a lot of an in-game narrative. Once more, I can not say an excessive amount of, however I would love individuals to stay up for how we put the narrative and gameplay components collectively on the end line.”