New Virtua Fighter Gameplay Footage Emerges

Virtua Fighter Returns: New In-Engine Footage Unveiled

Sega has treated fans to a fresh look at the upcoming Virtua Fighter installment, marking the franchise's highly anticipated return after nearly two decades of relative dormancy. The last major release was Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, a 2021 remaster (coming to Steam in January 2025), with only remasters and a commemorative release of Virtua Fighter 2 since then.

First shown at NVIDIA's 2025 CES keynote, the new footage, while not actual gameplay, offers a glimpse into the game's in-engine visuals. The short video showcases meticulously choreographed combat, more akin to a cinematic fight sequence than a raw gameplay recording. This polished presentation hints at a high level of production value. The resurgence of Virtua Fighter could solidify the 2020s as a golden age for fighting games, following recent releases from other major franchises.

A Visual Evolution

The video demonstrates a significant visual shift for the franchise. Moving away from its signature hyper-stylized polygons, the new Virtua Fighter adopts a more realistic art style, striking a balance between the aesthetics of Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. The iconic character Akira is featured in two different outfits, notably deviating from his traditional bandana and spiky hairstyle.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio at the Helm

Development is being spearheaded by Sega's own Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the acclaimed Yakuza series and also co-developers of the Virtua Fighter 5 remaster. This studio is also responsible for Sega's announced Project Century, highlighting their significant role in Sega's current development pipeline.

While details remain scarce, project director Riichirou Yamada's previous statements offer some clues regarding Sega's vision for the game. However, one thing is clear: Sega is fully committed to the revival of the Virtua Fighter brand, as evidenced by the continued release of promotional material. As Sega President and COO Shuji Utsumi declared in the VF Direct 2024 livestream, "Virtua Fighter is finally back!"