Virtua Fighter is stepping again into the highlight in a giant manner, with a rising international aggressive scene and a long-awaited return to the EVO major stage in 2026. Following the success of the Virtua Fighter Open Championship and renewed neighborhood curiosity worldwide, the sequence is coming into a brand new section underneath SEGA and RGG Studio.
I spoke with SEGA’s Seiji Aoki, producer of the Legacy Virtua Fighter challenge, concerning the recreation’s aggressive resurgence, the philosophy behind its enduring design, and what gamers can count on as Virtua Fighter continues to increase on the worldwide stage.
Virtua Fighter Interview with Seiji Aoki
Tonchan took house the prize on the Virtua Fighter Open Championship Finals after an unimaginable grand remaining. How does the group really feel seeing renewed curiosity within the Virtua Fighter aggressive scene?
Seiji Aoki: My growth group and I are actually grateful for the help. The enchantment of Virtua Fighter comes from the depth of its matches, the place gamers want sturdy technique and thoughts video games. As a result of it’s such a aggressive title, many alternative playstyles naturally develop, and I feel that selection is a giant a part of what makes the sequence so interesting and why followers have supported it for thus a few years.
We additionally spent a few yr working the primary official international event within the historical past of the sequence, the VIRTUA FIGHTER Open Championship. I used to be very happy that we may present a spot for communities all over the world to attach and uncover new rivals and mates, and I’m particularly blissful for Tonchan, who earned the title of champion.
It has been fairly a while since Virtua Fighter was a part of the primary lineup at Evolution Championship Collection. With Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage confirmed for Evolution Championship Collection 2026, how does the group really feel about seeing the sequence return to that stage?
We’re very blissful about this as nicely. For the Virtua Fighter sequence, showing at EVO with this title might be the primary time it’s been on the primary stage since VF4 Evolution and VF5 Last Showdown. Being chosen for EVO, one of many largest and most influential combating recreation tournaments within the FGC, is an excellent alternative to introduce the enchantment of Virtua Fighter to an excellent wider viewers. We’re extraordinarily grateful and excited.
On the World Finals, we additionally introduced the VIRTUA FIGHTER Open Championship 2026, or VFOC2026. This time, we plan to carry tournaments in areas we have now by no means lined earlier than, resembling South America and Oceania. By working VFOC2026 utilizing Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage and serving to uncover and develop new communities all over the world, we hope to create an setting the place gamers can proceed having fun with the sport for a few years to come back.
Virtua Fighter has at all times taken a extra grounded and methodical method in comparison with different fighters. In your expertise, what retains that type thrilling for gamers and followers at present?
I’ve been concerned with the Virtua Fighter sequence for the reason that growth of Virtua Fighter 4. Since I used to be initially a part of AM2, I proceed to worth and keep on the DNA I inherited from Yu Suzuki, the creator of Virtua Fighter.
From an early stage, Yu Suzuki aimed to create a practical combating recreation, and he introduced in movement seize and analysis into actual bodily motion. Actual combating sports activities have ring outs, and the selection to keep away from projectiles and flashy results in favor of a grounded full‑contact type all comes from that core idea of realism.
Due to this pursuit of realism, the most important enchantment of Virtua Fighter lies in its matches, which demand deep technique and excessive‑degree thoughts video games. Even with this degree of depth, the sequence nonetheless makes use of a easy three‑button management scheme, and I feel that steadiness between accessibility and depth is among the key causes followers have cherished Virtua Fighter for thus a few years.
Quite a bit has modified for combating video games, particularly 3D fighters, over the previous decade. What key classes has the group realized from persevering with to iterate on Virtua Fighter 5 over time?
One factor I’ve realized from engaged on the sequence for thus a few years is the significance of modernizing the sport to match the traits and expectations of every period. To do this, you want the power to obviously acknowledge what must not ever be modified and what completely wants to vary, and also you want a very good sense of steadiness between the 2. I imagine a very powerful factor is that your entire growth group understands this and approaches the creation of every new title with that mindset.
With instruments like rollback netcode and superior coaching modes turning into normal in combating video games, which options do you suppose gamers depend on most when getting ready for Virtua Fighter tournaments lately?
Having the ability to evaluation your individual matches, bounce again to particular moments, and check out totally different approaches again and again helps you uncover areas to enhance, discover new concepts, construct in your strengths, and overcome your weaknesses.
We now have included precisely that type of function in Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage, so I hope gamers will take full benefit of it. If there are any options gamers really feel are lacking or something on the market they want to request, we might actually admire listening to from them by means of the official Discord.
Virtua Fighter’s roster is thought for representing a variety of real-world martial arts. When designing new characters or revisiting current ones, how does the group determine which combating kinds to discover?
It could sound apparent, however the very first thing we give attention to is selecting a combating type that doesn’t overlap with any current character. From there, we have a look at a variety of traits and kinds that gamers throughout totally different areas can relate to, and we think about all of that along with the character’s visible design. We often make selections after taking this full image into consideration.
Many aggressive gamers at present have been launched to combating video games by means of more moderen titles. What do you suppose makes Virtua Fighter particular for a brand new era of gamers discovering it for the primary time?
Amongst combating video games, Virtua Fighter is commonly seen as tough, however this title provides deep gameplay whereas preserving issues quite simple. With its three‑button management scheme and its reasonable, full‑contact presentation that avoids projectiles and flashy results, the sport is straightforward to method but has loads of depth.
The most important enchantment is the excessive‑degree thoughts video games that occur throughout matches. As a result of it’s such a aggressive recreation, many alternative kinds of play emerge, and that selection is a serious a part of what makes the sequence so partaking. For gamers attempting the sport for the primary time, I hope they’ll expertise that distinctive enchantment for themselves.
With the present Virtua Fighter scene thriving, what’s been probably the most thrilling second for you lately, whether or not in tournaments, fan interactions, or neighborhood play?
Over the previous yr, we held VFOC qualifying tournaments in areas all all over the world. I attended each certainly one of them, and I used to be in a position to see the gamers’ performances and the efforts of their native communities firsthand. As a developer of the Virtua Fighter sequence, having that type of expertise was a primary for me, and it was one thing I actually loved.
At every venue, many VF followers personally shared phrases of thanks and encouragement with me. I used to be very grateful for that, and people messages have change into a terrific supply of motivation for the longer term.
As somebody who works carefully with combating video games each day, are there any combating video games you notably get pleasure from taking part in proper now outdoors of Virtua Fighter?
In terms of different combating video games, I typically watch match footage or examine neighborhood discussions for reference and analysis, however I don’t play them an excessive amount of. As for my private hobbies, I actually get pleasure from zombie‑themed video games and films, and I typically spend my free time watching or taking part in these sorts of works.
Thanks a lot in your time. I want RGG Studios the easiest for the way forward for Virtua Fighter.
We hope in your continued help of Sega and the Virtua Fighter sequence.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is now out there on the Nintendo Swap 2, together with replace 1.10 for all platforms.
