Sega Is "Evaluating" A New Virtua Fighter

"It’s something we’re working on"

by Damien McFerran Sat 9th Dec 2023

At this year's Game Awards, Sega delivered the welcome news that it is resurrecting some of its classic franchises, including Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Shinobi on modern-day systems – but some fans noticed that one series that was absent from this list: Virtua Fighter.

Established in 1993, the franchise is regarded as one of the most influential in the realm of one-on-one brawlers; its debut outing is also cited as one of the key reasons Sony decided to focus so strongly on 3D with its 32-bit PlayStation console.

However, while Sega hasn't totally turned its back on the franchise (Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown was released in 2021, while Virtua Fighter 3tb Online is coming to Japanese arcades this year), we haven't had a new mainline entry since Virtua Fighter 5, which first launched way back in 2006.

When Sega first teased its Game Awards announcement, many people assumed it would be related to Virtua Fighter – and while that didn't end up being the case, Sega's Shuji Utsumi has revealed in an interview with The Washington Post (paywalled) that the fighting game series is due a new release:

We are evaluating right now. Virtua Fighter doesn’t use so many tricks, special moves like in Street Fighter, it’s very realistic. How can we make it more dramatic? It’s something we’re working on.

[source washingtonpost.com]

Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories.

1
Coolmusic
Sat 9th Dec 2023

I would have liked a new VF reveal alongside those games, but right now I'm just glad we're getting new Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage titles, especially the last two.
It wasn't even that long ago we got SoR4 (which I loved btw) but it still feels nice seeing the series staying active, and a new GA is something that I have been wanting to see for a long time, almost as long as with VF.

2
somnambulance
Sat 9th Dec 2023

Its distinct lack of “special moves” is one of the things that makes Virtua Fighter distinctly special. There’s a certain fluidity and looseness to the fighting and movement that is unique in comparison to Tekken, which I feel is its closest analogue. If Sega focuses on that, I’m interested. I’m sure the challenge that they have with it though is that Virtua Fighter is a purer experience as a game than Street Fighter, Tekken, etc have become, and, by that, I mean, I’m sure that Virtua Fighter’s biggest hurdle is in how to adapt it to the age of GAAS, continuous monetization, and microtransactions. That, I’m sure, is the dramatic Sega is thinking of.

3
stinkyx
Sat 9th Dec 2023

@somnambulance I feel like Utsumi means that Virtua Fighter is just not that interesting to watch or play when compared to other modern fighting games. The "pureness" you mention comes off as just being "basic/generic" to me, I'm sorry to say.

I was REALLY hoping for a new VF announcement, but it sounds like they need to come up with a new gameplay hook to make a sequel warranted. Something like DOA's triangle system, for example, or maybe taking a page from the UFC games in terms of incorporating stamina or injuries to lean into the "realism" that the series sorta plays into. There's a lot of directions they could take it in. Otherwise, they'll just be swallowed up by Tekken's shadow, IMHO.

4
Banjo-
Sat 9th Dec 2023

After really solid Sonic 3D and 2D games, Sega is firing on all cylinders, finally! I can't wait to see those IPs and more revived, Virtua Fighter included.

@stinkyx What you say makes sense, keep Virtua Fighter pureness and add realistic elements on top of that to add some gameplay layers.

5
Ryu_Niiyama
Sat 9th Dec 2023

I swear sega loves to stress me out. Just make a new one. We've been begging for years. That being said for me VF5FS/US is still the best fighting game ever made, it just feels really good to play.

6
EarthboundBenjy
Sat 9th Dec 2023

Virtua Fighter is "very realistic"?? When I tried playing one, you spent like two whole seconds hovering in the air whenever you jumped over your opponent.

7
Carck
Sat 9th Dec 2023

@EarthboundBenjy that means you only played the first one

8
AJB83
Sun 10th Dec 2023

@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah, it's a great game, and it is still gorgeous

What I love about the VF series is that you can go all the way back to the first game and still have an experience that is fantastic. They nailed it right from off, which was an astounding achievement, considering it was the first 3D fighter out there! VF1 is just pure arcade goodness, and VF2 is just as brilliant now as it was on release. The same goes for 3 and mostly 4. 5 is timeless also.

I didn't like Tekken until Tekken 3, and I stopped caring about the series after Dark Resurrection.

9
ModdedInkling
Sun 10th Dec 2023

Virtua Fighter 5 remains to be one of the best fighting games ever made. I'm a little disappointed Sega really has not properly followed up yet considering it already has a massive competitive following.

10
-wc-
Sun 10th Dec 2023

@AJB83

i was super onboard with your entire comment, but i cannot imagine what your problem with Tekken 1 and especially 2 was. 😅 perfect game! 3 was just the maximalist version of 2 imo. 👍

11
axelhander
Sun 10th Dec 2023

No rollback no buy. Rollback netcode is the bare minimum, and something Sega skimped on in the VF5 re-release.

12
AJB83
Sun 10th Dec 2023

@-wc- I just don't think they had much identity initially. I didn't like the gameplay in the first game, and the second game didn't grab me either. I feel like Tekken 3 was when it found it's groove and became a series to be absolutely mentioned in the same breath as Virtua Fighter 2. I felt the same way about Soul Edge... Calibur changed that series forever.

I wish it was simple brand loyalty to SEGA, but I really dig the PSX at the time too, so I can't blame my teenage brain, haha.

Don't take me too seriously, I'm not very good at fighters, but I love them all the same, haha! Hell, I still love the first couple of Toshinden games to this day, although I think that's more because of the character designs and stellar music, if I'm being honest

13
tameshiyaku
Sun 10th Dec 2023

Sega should absolutely reboot VF, but they need to add some charisma and flair to their characters. I love the gameplay, but VF has always been the blandest bunch of martial arts stereotypes, and I believe that was holding the series back.

1) Redesign Characters 2) stylized or hyperrealistic graphics 3) SP campaign with a story that makes us care for them all (like Mortal Kombat 9 and onward) 4) bulletproof netcode

14
-wc-
Sun 10th Dec 2023

@AJB83

i respect your opinion, and i feel that alot of people agree with you, especially from a historical perspective. 👍

i want to ask, did you play tekken 1 or soul edge/blade in their day? because i felt at the time that NOTHING id ever played was like those 2 games at the time. tekken in particular was like VF with more personality and approachability, and i had dreamt of a weapons based fighter as solid and convincing (and fun) as soul blade. and yes i had tohshinden at the time too 😋

tekken 2 is absolutely in my opinion where the series found its legs, and is the game in the series that matched a large character roster with tight and focused gameplay, whereas 3 got a little bloated and silly (but still great.)

Calibur is a 11/10, perfect game that blew my mind when i got it and a DC, but do feel that the series took a new direction and became a different thing at that time. hence the title change.

anyway, opinions! i love these games and i love talking about them 👍 thanks!

15
fpcreator2000
Mon 11th Dec 2023

do like sf6 and add an overworld with rpg like progression alongside arcade mode.

16
somnambulance
Mon 11th Dec 2023

@stinkyx Unfortunately, I agree that I fear Virtua Fighter would get swallowed up in Tekken’s shadow. Virtua Fighter is a complicated game, but it isn’t flashy in the sense that many other fighters are with blood or explosions. It relies directly on gameplay as its selling point. And, yes, the “pureness” makes engagement a real challenge in a more active age. I could see a new title reviewing well for fighting game purists, but not having nearly the level of engagement of SF, MK, or Tekken. Oddly enough too, I don’t feel like VF embraces “realness” like, say, the UFC titles you’d mentioned. VF is in a world of “pure gaming,” which was more of a thing years ago, but is very much out of vogue now. It’s a series where I want it to return, but I can’t even fathom how they’d do it to cater to modern audiences beyond a niche of highly passionate vintage gamers that have been screaming for fighting games to cease their more exploitative aspects.

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