Capcom producer Shuhei Matsumoto has revealed that the inspiration for the Battle Hub mode in Street Fighter 6 came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the latest mainline entry in the long-lasting fighting game franchise, Street Fighter 6 distinguishes itself by emphasizing customization with the Battle Hub being a lobby where players get the opportunity to show off their customized avatars to others online.
What distinguishes Street Fighter 6 from its predecessors is an attempt to cram as much content in the game as possible, from the aforementioned Battle Hub to the single-player World Tour mode that drops players into an open world, something that has never been attempted by the series before. It certainly speaks of a game attempting to blend content-rich offerings for players wishing to hone their skills online or explore what it offers those wishing for a solo experience.
When Capcom studio heads were speaking to Game Informer about Street Fighter 6, producer Shuhei Matsumoto stated the inspiration for the mode came due to the global pandemic and there not being many opportunities for people to socialize in real life. The lobby takes cues from arcades where players have to sit down on an arcade machine to play a match or spectate other matches players are in. Older arcade games are also playable in Battle Hub, like Street Fighter 2 and Final Fight. Their inclusion not only acts as an homage to the series' extensive lineage but also acts as a way to compare Street Fighter 6's gameplay to its predecessors.
It may also come as no surprise that the pandemic has impacted a game like Street Fighter 6 since its appeal and the appeal of fighting games like it is the community that comes with it. COVID-19 has shaped the world over the past few years, with creators like Hideo Kojima opening up about Death Stranding 2 being influenced by the pandemic's impact on people across the globe. Even if it is not stated as an influence, there is no doubt many games have been or will be inspired as a result of it when it comes to creating the game world or crafting the narrative.
If it can seamlessly pull off all of its ambitions, Street Fighter 6 will be a stunning highlight for the franchise regarding its gameplay and content offerings. Given Matsumoto and the rest of Capcom's desires to simulate the arcade experience, it stands to reason that Battle Hub has the potential to be a fantastic communal offering for players wishing to show off their custom characters and add an extra personal layer to the multiplayer experience.
Street Fighter 6 will be released on June 2, 2023, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Game Informer (via DualShockers)
