Street Fighter 6 has burst onto the scene, captivating fighting game enthusiasts and newcomers alike. As players immerse themselves in the World Tour, Battle Hub, and Fighting Ground modes, a common question arises: where are some of the iconic characters that fans have come to love over the years? Long-time fans may be wondering about the absence of fighters like Vega, Sagat, Fei Long, Dan, and even the menacing Akuma from the initial roster.
Capcom’s approach to character selection in Street Fighter 6 is a calculated strategy aimed at appealing to the broadest possible audience. To achieve mainstream success, they needed a roster that balanced beloved, recognizable faces with fresh, new characters to draw in a new generation of players. Looking at the starting lineup of SF6, the emphasis on Characters From Street Fighter II, arguably the most popular and culturally impactful game in the series, becomes immediately apparent. Beyond the iconic World Warriors, only Juri, hailing from Street Fighter 4, and Luke, introduced in Street Fighter 5, represented games outside of the legendary SFII.
This focus on Street Fighter II nostalgia isn’t accidental. Capcom understands that for many casual fans, their primary exposure to the franchise stems from the early 1990s arcade boom, where Ryu, Ken, and the Hadoken became household names. To entice this demographic, SF6 needed to feel familiar and inviting, rather than overwhelming them with a cast dominated by lesser-known or radically different characters. The initial struggles of Street Fighter III, a title that significantly deviated from the SFII formula, serve as a cautionary tale in this regard.
Developing characters for a modern fighting game is a massive undertaking, demanding significant time, resources, and artistic effort. Including every character from Street Fighter’s rich history at launch simply isn’t feasible within realistic development timelines. Therefore, Capcom had to make strategic choices, prioritizing characters for the initial release, planning future DLC additions for the first year, and outlining a roadmap beyond. Furthermore, storyline considerations play a role. Characters like M. Bison, who canonically met his end in Street Fighter V, and Vega, deeply tied to the now-disbanded Shadaloo organization, have fewer narrative justifications for inclusion in the current SF6 storyline.
The inclusion of the classic Street Fighter II cast was a deliberate move to tap into nostalgia and guarantee a strong initial player base familiar with these iconic figures. Juri’s presence acknowledges her immense popularity within the fanbase, arguably making her one of the most beloved Street Fighter characters in recent years, outside of the original World Warriors. Luke’s inclusion signifies his role as the new protagonist, the face of Street Fighter for this generation. Meanwhile, newcomers like Jamie, Kimberly, Marisa, Manon, Lily, and JP are designed to inject fresh blood into the franchise, attracting new players with unique fighting styles and personalities.
Ultimately, character selection in Street Fighter 6 is a carefully considered business decision, prioritizing sales and market appeal. While fan desires are important, they take a backseat to the core objective of profitability. A player with fond memories of Street Fighter II in their youth is far more likely to purchase SF6 with a roster featuring Ryu, Chun-Li, and Guile than a game populated by comparatively niche characters such as Vega, Abigail, Necro, C. Viper, Rufus, Oro, Seth, and Kolin.
For those wondering about the absence of consistently popular characters, the explanation, while perhaps a bit cynical, is straightforward: DLC. Characters like Akuma, Sagat, and Sakura, who were highly requested DLC additions to Street Fighter V after missing the initial launch, demonstrated the immense sales potential of fan-favorite characters released as post-launch content. Capcom is following a similar playbook with Street Fighter 6, making Akuma the headline DLC character for Year One, scheduled for release in Spring after Ed’s winter debut. While it can be disappointing to see these beloved characters relegated to DLC instead of being available on day one, this approach is a clear reflection of the business realities of the modern fighting game landscape.
