SEGA has officially confirmed that a new Virtua Fighter game is in development. This announcement comes as part of SEGA's broader initiative to revive several of its classic franchises. Justin Scarpone, SEGA's global head of transmedia, revealed this information in a recent interview with VGC.
The new Virtua Fighter game joins a lineup of other classic SEGA franchises getting new entries, including:
1. Crazy Taxi
2. Jet Set Radio
3. Golden Axe
4. Streets of Rage
5. Shinobi
While specific details about the new Virtua Fighter game haven't been disclosed, its development is significant for fans of the series. The last main entry in the Virtua Fighter series was released for arcades in 2006 and ported to PlayStation 3 in 2007, making this revival long-awaited by many.
SEGA's decision to bring back Virtua Fighter aligns with their strategy to leverage their rich catalog of classic IPs. This move follows hints and teasers that had led fans to speculate about a potential Virtua Fighter revival, including a cryptic tweet from SEGA's official account in early October 2023.
The Virtua Fighter series, known for its revolutionary 3D fighting gameplay, has been a cornerstone of SEGA's fighting game legacy since its arcade debut in 1993. As the fighting game genre continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how SEGA adapts the classic Virtua Fighter formula for modern audiences.
This announcement is part of SEGA's larger initiative to revitalize its classic franchises across various media, including games, films, and TV series. While we don't have specific details on release dates or platforms for the new Virtua Fighter game, this news is sure to excite long-time fans and potentially introduce the series to a new generation of players.
