Hey fellow fighting game fanatics, buckle up because Sega has finally decided to treat us to a little Virtua Fighter love. On Friday, the company dropped the bomb that a new Virtua Fighter Direct presentation will hit our screens on Sunday, May 11—the very last day of Evo Japan. That’s right, Sega is setting the stage on its official Virtua Fighter YouTube channels, and while details are a bit murky, we’re already buzzing with excitement.
Sega’s promise is simple: “new developments in the Virtua Fighter series” will be revealed. While we don’t yet know if this means more juicy details about a much-anticipated Virtua Fighter 6 or perhaps another slick update to Virtua Fighter 5 (imagine it running on the latest LG smart fridge—okay, maybe not that far, but you get the idea), the mystery is half the fun. And yes, we’ve all had that moment of panic when a much-hyped announcement vanishes from social media only to be confirmed moments later. Sega’s gone old-school in its teasing, pulling back the announcement because the promoted YouTube channels aren’t live yet and the presentation’s start time is still up in the air.
In a reassuring statement, a Sega rep confirmed, “[We] can confirm that the VF Direct is still happening on Sunday. And a new post will be live later this evening (Friday, May 9). Stay Tuned!” So worry not, our VF dreams aren’t on hold—we just need to keep our eyes peeled for that update.
For those new to the fight (or for our loyal veterans who still get goosebumps thinking about 1993), the original Virtua Fighter didn’t just arrive—it exploded onto the scene and forever changed the fighting game community. The original game pioneered 3D fighting before it was cool, setting the bar for skill-based combat that influenced heavyweights like Tekken and Dead or Alive (and even inspired some, let’s say, quirky imitators like Fight For Life and Fighter’s Destiny).
Fast forward to more recent times: Sega’s last major entry was Virtua Fighter 5 back in 2006. It first dominated on the Lindbergh arcade system and later made its way to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2007. The evolution didn’t stop there; updated versions kept the flame burning for almost 20 years, with Virtua Fighter 5 REVO landing on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X—though sadly, it’s not yet optimized for that high-tech LG smart fridge in your kitchen.
And if you were sitting on the edge of your seat after catching a snippet of action at the 2024 Video Game Awards (where Sega proudly showed off VF6 with a fresh new artistic spin and a “swagged-out” Akira looking extra suave), then this upcoming VF Direct has the potential to be a real game-changer.
While we’re still in suspense about the precise start time and any additional hints, one thing’s for sure: whether you’re dreaming of a new Virtua Fighter 6 or just craving more nostalgia from VF5, this presentation is one event you won’t want to miss. Stick with us for more updates as soon as Sega spills the rest of the tea!
Source: This article was inspired by content from Polygon . All images belong to their respective owners.