After years without a proper new entry, one of the most influential 3D fighting game franchises of all time is set to return with the upcoming Virtua Fighter 6. Announced in a surprise reveal at The Game Awards 2024, this updated take is being handled by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio of Yakuza fame. With massive changes to presentation being an inevitability of the gap between mainline releases, it’s still unclear how far VF6 will take its reboot of the series.
In an era of nearly every major name in the broader fighting game genre being built on some form of rebooted continuity, it makes sense that Sega may elect for Virtua Fighter 6 to follow the same example in its own revival. With the ongoing commitment of series fans to the classic style of the older entries, however, a new vision comes with its fair share of risks. Given mixed precedents for both routes, VF6 is just as likely to feature a new generation as it is to reimagine its mainstays.
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Virtua Fighter 6 Marks Another Franchise Stepping into the Fighting Game Reboot Trope
A Proper Return After Nearly Two Decades of Updated Editions
There have technically been consistent releases under the IP since Virtua Fighter 5‘s 2006 launch, but these have all merely been re-releases of that same title that have gradually improved it with each console generation. No time was wasted in teasing gameplay footage, as its announcement featured an impressive and familiar display of the series’ focus on realistic simulated martial arts. With this taking place in an uncharacteristically rural setting that seemed to take more influence from Kung fu films than older games, there’s also a sense of evolution on the horizon.
Growing Past the Simplicity of Classic VF
Virtua Fighter series protagonist Akira Yuki appeared with a brand-new look to mark this transition, now a scruffier figure who is nearly unrecognizable compared to how he was when sporting a clean Karate gi. Instead of another classic character, a new fighter named Stella was shown fighting against him. There’s a sense that this title could be a complete tonal departure, but the youth of the latest revealed character also hints at a more connected intergenerational arc.
The Pros and Cons of Committing to a Hard Reset for the Virtua Fighter Universe
The Potential of the Classic Roster to Live Again
Rebuilding the concept of Virtua Fighter from the ground up provides a clean slate to keep iconic faces like Wolf Hawkfield and Pai Chan around without being shackled by lore. By taking a similar approach to Mortal Kombat 9 by retaining a rough translation of the lineup that started the Virtua Fighter franchise, Ryu Ga Gotoku can infuse its own style into this modern era of the series without leaving characters behind. When it comes to a series that has always prioritized raw gameplay over a loosely set narrative, this is a compelling way to potentially deepen its lore moving forward.
A New Generation Could Canonize the Passage of Time as of VF6
Opting for a soft reboot in expanding the Virtua Fighter series, on the other hand, would enable the studio to bring in a whole new cast of younger characters like Stella. This seems most probable due to the aged look of Akira, but it also would require more careful execution. Bandai Namco’s controversial Soulcalibur 5 infamously saw its set of “new gen” fighters fail to resonate with fans, to such an extent that its eventual successor would roll the timeline back to the original roster. Regardless of the possible pitfalls, this change in strategy could see Virtua Fighter 6 land as a nuanced comeback that stands out as a passing of the torch done right.