Although Sony did announce that today's State of Play would be focusing on upcoming third-party titles, nobody really expected there to be quite so many reveals. Along with brand new PSVR2 game footage, new Indie announcements, and some high-profile third-party franchise reveals, a few already-confirmed titles got new updates. Street Fighter 6 was one of those titles.
In just three minutes, the brand-new Street Fighter 6 trailer managed to showcase a pseudo open-world game mode, a grounded yet striking new art style, and some intense fights. On top of that, this new trailer also showcased a few familiar faces, along with a brand new one, and while it was short, each character had their moment to shine. If this trailer is anything to go by, Street Fighter 6 may be the course correction the series needs, and it may just be the perfect entry for both long-time fans, and newcomers alike.
Every Street Fighter 6 Character So Far
Back in February, when Street Fighter 6 was first announced, just two characters were confirmed for the roster: Ryu, and Luke. While Ryu is the quintessential Street Fighter character, appearing in every single Street Fighter game since its 1987, Luke is not regarded with quite as much adoration.
First introduced in the maligned last entry in the franchise, Street Fighter 5, Luke appeared as the final DLC character in the game's 5th season pass, and was thus the last character to come to the game overall. From a gameplay perspective, Luke uses a form of military-taught MMA. His moveset consists primarily of wild, stiff blows, throws, and an ability to launch sand in the opponent's face. Story-wise, Luke is a former Special Forces operative who decided to leave the military to pursue a career in competitive fighting.
Luke's place as the final DLC fighter for Street Fighter 5, along with his juxtaposing arrogance and naivety, have lead him to being one of the most disliked fighters in recent years. But for some reason, he's making a return in Street Fighter 6, and in a big way, being one of the top-billed characters right now right alongside the immensely popular, recognizable Ryu. Both Ryu and Luke can be seen throughout the new trailer, with Luke punching away at a bag while Ryu gracefully spins around a wooden deck testing out his new Gi.
This new trailer also confirmed that Chun-Li is returning once again to the franchise. First appearing in Street Fighter 2 in 1991, Chun-Li is widely considered to be one of the first female video game protagonists, or at least the first to get any real mainstream recognition. Since 1991, Chun-Li has been another staple of the franchise, right alongside Ryu and Ken.
In the trailer, Chun-Li looks to be a little older than her usual depictions, perhaps suggesting that she might take on a mentor role in Street Fighter 6. This is backed up by the footage in the trailer showing her sparring with a younger woman, playfully flipping behind her and delivering a subtle tap to her head with her foot. This student could be a new character for Street Fighter 6's roster, but that hasn't been confirmed just yet.
Along with Chun-Li, Ryu, and Luke, one new fighter was also revealed during this State of Play trailer. Named Jamie, this character uses his own unique style of martial arts, based on a form of drunken boxing. Jamie has a variety of moves that involve attacks inspired by breakdancing, such as the multi-kick spin he does in the trailer while balancing on his head.
Street Fighter 6 will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
