Summary
Following Sega’s surprising reveal of an initiative to revive several older IPs,Virtua Fighterwas also addressed as a possible candidate for a revival. Earlier at this year’s The Game Awards 2023, companies like Bandai Namco, Capcom, and BioWare revealed new titles and projects. Sega was also present at the show, with trailers for Atlus’Metaphor: ReFantazioandPersona 3 Reload.Sega also announced the revivals of several classic properties, likeJet Set Radio,Streets of Rage, andCrazy Taxi, which caught many off-guard.
Sega teased its presence at The Game Awards a few days before the show, with many fans speculating about what the company would reveal. Based on the tag line of “New Era, New Energy,” it was safe to assume it would be for some sort of reboot. Sega fans like fighting game YouTuber Maximillian Dood revealed that they received an invitation from Sega, with some theorizing thatSega was teasing a newVirtua Fighterat The Game Awards. While this turned out not to be the case, Sega’s co-COO did address the demand for a new game in the franchise.
In an interview with The Washington Post (archived by Time Extension), co-COO of Sega Corporation and Sega of America CEO Shuji Utsumi addressed the absence ofVirtua Fighterfrom the lineup of revivals announced at The Game Awards. Utsumi, revealed that he agrees the fighting game franchise is overdue for a brand-new entry, and that the company is evaluating the potential for a new title. “We are evaluating right now.Virtua Fighterdoesn’t use so many tricks, special moves like inStreet Fighter, it’s very realistic. How can we make it more dramatic? It’s something we’re working on,” says Utsumi.
Utsumi’s concern has some merit, as thefighting game space in 2023 and 2024 is jam-packedwith incredibly impressive entries in franchises likeStreet Fighter,Mortal Kombat, andTekken.Virtua Fighteris more grounded with realistic blows and martial arts, unlike fellow 3D fighterTekken, which includes superpowered fighters despite its incredibly technical gameplay, so it has a bit of an uphill battle when trying to stand out. Regardless, many classic fighting game fans would love to just see another entry in the series.
We are evaluating right now.Virtua Fighterdoesn’t use so many tricks, special moves like inStreet Fighter, it’s very realistic. How can we make it more dramatic? It’s something we’re working on.
The firstVirtua Fighterreleased in 1993 and was incredibly influential for the fighting game genre, as it pushed the envelope with its technology and 3D graphics. While the franchise isn’t as prominent as it used to be, Sega is still supporting the series in small ways.2021 saw the release ofVirtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown, a remake of the PS3 original using Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s proprietary Dragon Engine. Sega will also be releasingVirtua Fighter 3tb Online, an updated version of the originalVirtua Fighter 3that will be releasing exclusively in Japanese arcades.
