Street Fighter 6 Producer Reveals How He Helped Save Capcom’s Iconic Fighting Game Franchise From ‘Dying’

Key Points:

• Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto revealed that during the Street Fighter V era, the franchise was in serious jeopardy, with concerns it might fade into obscurity within a decade if not revitalized.
• Street Fighter V faced criticism for launching in an unfinished state, lacking key features like arcade and story modes, and suffered from unstable online play, contributing to a declining and aging player base.
• Matsumoto and director Takayuki Nakayama decided to rebuild the franchise from scratch for Street Fighter 6, targeting younger players and newcomers by simplifying controls and adding accessible features such as the Modern control scheme and World Tour Mode.
• Their strategy proved successful, with Street Fighter 6 becoming one of Capcom’s most successful titles, selling over seven million units by mid-2026 and maintaining a large, active global player base.
• Capcom is enjoying a strong year with multiple critically-acclaimed game releases and the upcoming Street Fighter movie, further boosting the franchise's visibility and appeal.