Sega’s Newly Announced Classic Series Revival is Nearly 20 Years in the Making (2024)

Sega and Atlus have had an especially strong 2024 compared to many AAA publishers and developers right now, producing hits like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Sonic X Shadow Generations, and more throughout the year. Its future prospects also look good, with Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii due in early 2025, and a retro revival initiative underway to bring back franchises like Shinobi, Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, and so on. Rumors have been circulating that a Virtua Fighter 6 could be part of Sega’s plans, and, fortunately, there is indeed another Virtua Fighter around the corner.

In a recent interview with VGC, Sega's global head of transmedia Justin Scarpone revealed that Virtua Fighter has joined the ranks of legacy series receiving new installments. While rumblings of a new Virtua Fighter had begun as early as Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown’s launch in June 2021, leaker tweets and vague developer statements have only piled up since. As recently as the beginning of October 2024, Sega even tweeted a short video under the word “SE6A,” fueling speculation further. Outsiders are likely puzzled by the strong reaction to this news, but fans can't help but celebrate a nearly twenty-year dry streak being broken.

The History of Virtua Fighter, Explained

Virtua Fighter has been a name to know in fighting games since its arcade debut back in 1993. While not exactly the first 3D fighting game, Virtua Fighter set the standard for 3D fighting games to follow, directly resulting in Tekken’s creation a year later and serving as the template for Dead or Alive’s three-button controls. It was extremely successful in arcades and made a competent leap to Sega’s consoles, becoming well-known for its gameplay and cutting-edge presentation. Unfortunately, global arcade popularity shifted toward consoles and Sega’s console line ended, foreshadowing an abrupt end to Virtua Fighter’s reign.

Virtua Fighter 5’s Era Seemed Like The Series’ Final Stop

Most of the 24 named Virtua Fighter titles came out before Virtua Fighter 5 launched for arcades in 2006 and consoles in 2007, so the series subsisting on VF5 iterations for a few years wasn't initially cause for concern. It was during the nearly empty stretch between VF5’s 2012 Final Showdown revision for PS3 and Xbox 360 and Ultimate Showdown’s PS4 release in 2021 when fans realized the series was on its last legs. For years, the series was only kept alive through modern Yakuza titles incorporating emulated copies of VF5FS. Even after Ultimate Showdown drew in new fans, hopes were not high for Virtua Fighter to escape its life support.

Virtua Fighter’s Hiatus Has Now Officially Ended

Now, however, the end of Virtua Fighter 5’s nearly 20-year reign as the last console Virtua Fighter is suddenly in sight. Fighting games had a resurgence after Street Fighter 4’s console launch in 2009, but Virtua Fighter’s flashy 3D fighter competition has, for better and for worse, mostly dried up. VF's arch-rival Tekken rules the subgenre uncontested, but that's because Mortal Kombat jumped back to 2D, while Soul Calibur and Dead or Alive failed to stay afloat. Virtua Fighter’s back-to-basics approach managed to survive its downtime thanks to its enduring qualities and internal Sega support, and it's ready to mount a comeback.

The Present and Future of Virtua Fighter

The roadmap for what might be Virtua Fighter 6 is, like many of Sega’s other IP revival plans, rather vague right now. Without early footage or a description to gauge completion, the new Virtua Fighter could still be years away. Some veteran VF players are also concerned over scattered developer mentions of adding something to make a modern Virtua Fighter stand out, as the series typically trades the fantastical visual flair of other fighting franchises for uniquely-Virtua Fighter consistency and efficiency. However it ends up, a new Virtua Fighter is officially on its way, and after this long, that's more than enough reason to celebrate.

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Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown

The legendary fighting series returns with Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown! Challenge the greatest fighters in the world in the ultimate remaster of the classic 3D fighter, now featuring gorgeous HD graphics, new online features, and all the bone-crunching, martial arts combat of the renowned original. Battle through classic VF modes like “Arcade” or “Rank Match,” create your own custom online tournaments and leagues with up to 16 friends, or learn from the best with the new “Spectator Mode.” Master your fighting style to defeat all challengers in the Fifth World Fighting Tournament and become a Virtua Fighter legend!
“Ora, Ora, ORA!”
Features: Custom Combatants: Enter the ring with one of the 19 playable characters. Master each of their unique fighting styles and customize them with distinctive costumes and character items
The Full Experience: Experience the pinnacle of the Virtua Fighter experience as you play your favorite classic modes like “Rank Match”, “Arcade”, “Training”, and “Versus”.
Crush the Competition: Take on all challengers as you compete with up to 16 players in new online modes including “Tournaments” and “League.”
The Ultimate Remaster: Play classic VF5 in glorious HD with updated character models, stages, and cinematics.
Legendary Pack: Get a blast from the past as you play Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown with customization items, characters models*, stages*** and music straight out of the ground breaking original Virtua Fighter game.
The designs have been remade for this title based on the original Virtua Fighter designs.
The original Virtua Fighter stages cannot be used at the online matches.

Fighting

Systems

Franchise

Virtua Fighter

Platform(s)

PS4

Released

June 1, 2021

Developer(s)

Sega

Publisher(s)

Sega

Engine

Dragon Engine

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

See at Playstation Store