![]() They were like, "The power that woman has!" So, I think people are really excited about the diverse roster, skill sets, aesthetics, and, so far, it has not been a challenge. You had a legacy character like Dee Jay that everyone loved, but then we had trends over with Marissa. Even as far as recently revealed back at The Game Awards where we had Manon, Marissa, and Dee Jay. ![]() ![]() We're seeing with each character reveal new fan art, new cosplay, and new communities. And, we thought, "Oh, my gosh, she'll be overshadowed, she'll be outshined," but no, people were just as equally excited. Kimberly, for instance, when we revealed her back at EVO and, I see that smile there, it's like, she had the smoke bombs, you know, and she's alongside Juri, right, who's also like that favorite. Simmons: You say challenge, but it's actually been really exciting. What are the challenges in presenting newer characters to this fan base, many of whom have already had their favorites for generations? Shacknews: We're seeing with Luke and the newer characters that there is a push towards spotlighting some fresh faces in Street Fighter 6. So we're trying to pay homage to all those different dimensions of fans for 6. There's people like hip hop artists, even, that connect back to the brand. Simmons: To highlight her as a commentator, people like the wrestling community, which there's a lot of history there, but also like it's not just for esports fans, it's not just for those competitors. Then a couple of weeks ago, we actually brought in Zelina Vega, which. We still have like our core FGC folks, right? We brought them in with that in-game commentator feature. Now with 6, what I love is that it really highlights the different kind of fans we have. Viper, and seeing that kind of throwback, like a little bit of homage to hip hop at that time, as well, and then seeing how it's evolved. Simmons: Oh, my gosh! It's actually really awesome to see the change, because I remember starting Street Fighter back in 4 and seeing C. In what ways do you feel that Street Fighter 6's community might differ from the previous ones? Shacknews: Every Street Fighter community, going all the way back to Street Fighter 2, Third Strike, SF4, and SF5, they've all felt different and distinct. So I'm just thinking about those iconic moments that are rolling into this nice swansong, so that we can now prep for. A lot of fans gave us some good feedback on that from not only that strong roster, but also that crossover character of Akira. And, with that, actually rolling out the Season 5 pass, which is why we felt like we were going to have a strong finish with this one. There was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of pivoting within the team, but we were able to kind of show our faces, the faces of the Street Fighter franchise, which is Games Director Nakayama and Producer Matsumoto taking the helm and hearing back from the community on that transparency and open communication. I think it also unrolled this new era, because at the time, that was when we had our digital showcases. Simmons: One was the release of Champion Edition having all that content: stages, characters, all bundled into one, feeling like the most complete version that it's ever been, also having that kick off to that Season 5 pass and the way we did it. ![]() Shacknews: What are some noteworthy milestones that you feel that the Street Fighter series hit with the Street Fighter 5 generation? Even though we're opening up to this new chapter, we knew that there is still going to be a really strong finish for 5 and we're going to have strong farewell, especially with Capcom Cup. Last year we celebrated the 35th anniversary, and Street Fighter has a long legacy and our fans came along for the ride. Jackie Simmons, Street Fighter 6 Brand Manager: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Shacknews: Did you expect the Street Fighter 5 generation to last as long as it did? Between talking about our memories with the series, I made sure to ask about what lies ahead for the next generation of Street Fighter. Prior to the Capcom Cup's conclusion and just before the announcement of a $2 million USD prize pool, Shacknews sat down with Street Fighter 6 Brand Manager Jackie Simmons. With such a big few months ahead, we couldn't help but speak with one of the driving forces behind the series' competitive push. Street Fighter 6 awaits on the horizon, set to release in June and headline its first EVO in August. It's been an amazing run, one that lasted far longer than some may have expected, but it is now time to move on to what lies ahead. Earlier this month, Capcom bid farewell to competitive Street Fighter 5. ![]()
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