The Street Fighter franchise was in a precarious position prior to the development of Street Fighter 6, with its long-term survival uncertain. According to Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto and game director Takayuki Nakayama, the series could have ceased to exist within a decade if significant changes hadn't been implemented.
Following the departure of Yoshinori Ono in 2020, Matsumoto and Nakayama took on the task of revitalizing the franchise. Their goal was to create a game that would appeal to both the established, aging player base and attract new participants. Matsumoto noted in an interview that the Street Fighter 5 player base typically ranged from 35 to 45 years old, a demographic that would be nearing 60 within ten years. "It’s difficult to sustain the franchise if we only rely on that group," he stated, emphasizing that the IP risked obsolescence within a decade if no action was taken. He explained that while the Street Fighter name remained recognizable, actual engagement was declining.
The development of Street Fighter 6 marked a pivotal moment. The team approached its creation as if it were an entirely new fighting game, rather than solely relying on the series' legacy. Key elements that contributed to its success included the introduction of the "Modern Control" scheme, designed to lower the barrier to entry for new players, the addition of the "World Tour" mode, and a closer integration with the fighting game community during the development process. These efforts resulted in Street Fighter 6 becoming a critical and commercial success upon its release in 2023.
Street Fighter 6 is widely regarded as a significant entry in the genre for the current decade. The game continues to maintain a healthy player base, has received ongoing post-launch content, and its accessible control options have successfully drawn in a new audience. This turnaround is particularly noteworthy given the franchise's own history; Street Fighter 4 is credited with reinvigorating the fighting game genre in the late 2000s after a period where it was overshadowed by newer intellectual properties. Street Fighter 6 also represents another success in Capcom's recent string of critically acclaimed titles, a trend that began with Resident Evil 7 and has continued with releases such as Resident Evil 4, Pragmata, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. The company's recent success extends beyond games, with Zach Cregger's live-action Resident Evil movie adaptation proving to be a commercial hit, and a new Street Fighter film slated for release.