Street Fighter V's Launch Content is Underwhelming, But Capcom has Big Plans for the Future
15
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 11:26 AM
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 12:32 PM
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 12:54 PM
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 04:04 PM
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 06:02 PM
Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 11:55 PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 12:23 AM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 02:57 AM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 12:13 PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 02:18 PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 03:39 PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 05:21 PM
Sunday, February 14, 2016 @ 03:37 PM
Sunday, February 14, 2016 @ 08:14 PM
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @ 04:27 AM
Friday, February 12, 2016
Capcom has detailed the Street Fighter V content that will be made available at launch and beyond, while outlining grand plans for a game that it hopes will last an entire console generation.
When SFV releases on PlayStation 4 next week, it will include 16 fighters (new character vids for Laura and Vega below) playable in Character Story mode (single-player) and Network Battle mode (online multiplayer, ranked and casual). Network Battle mode will launch with lobbies that can accommodate just two players.
Also included at launch will be Survival Mode. In this mode, your health and EX Gauge carry over between fights against a procession of AI opponents. Each win earns you points that you can spend on power-ups like health or attack or defence increases, which can up your chances of continuing your run. However, spending points on power-ups will reduce your score. Survival Mode will come with four difficulty levels, the completion of which will unlock new outfit colours and in-game titles for your characters.
Also available at launch will be Training Mode (allowing players to try out new characters and learn new moves against a largely static opponent) and Versus for local fights.
Basically, Street Fighter V isn’t launching with much content. It’s a relatively small roster of fighters, playable in a bare bones selection of modes. But don’t worry. Capcom has outlined loads of additional content coming to Street Fighter V over the coming months, including new fighters, modes, sub-modes and options.
First up: fighters. Over the course of 2016, Capcom promises to deliver six new characters; Alex, Guile, Ibuki, Balrog, Juri and Urien, increasing the roster from 16 to 22. These extra characters will be delivered between March and September at a rate of one a month. Players can unlock these characters either with earned in-game cash or real money.
Providing an outline of how much this will cost you, Capcom said that you’ll have enough in-game cash to earn the first of the fighters, Alex, merely by completing each of the launch fighters’ Character Story modes. Alternatively you can also pay real money individual characters, or dish out for a season pass ($29.99) that will grant access to all six characters as and when they’re released, as well as an in-game costume and a PS4 theme.
A Challenge Mode will also be coming to the game post-release, with its four sub-modes arriving in a staccato fashion. Coming “soon after launch” will be the first two of these sub-modes; Targets (daily challenges rewarding in-game money, titles and “other cool content”) and Extra Battle (fight against special CPU bosses for in-game rewards).
Concept art of Alex. Click image for full pic.
In March, Challenge Mode’s other two sub-modes will be released; Battle Tips (tutorials for each fighter) and Trials (combo challenges for each fighter). Also coming next month will be an in-game shop, allowing players to “purchase additional in-game content”, alongside improved lobby support, which will up the lobby size from two players to eight and add the ability to spectate matches.
Then in June, Capcom unleashes the free Cinematic Story Expansion. It’s a single-player mode with a story that takes place between Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter III. “This is the first time in franchise history that fans will be able to play through this type of cinematic story experience in a Street Fighter game,” said Capcom when the mode was announced.
So while Street Fighter V will launch with a paltry amount of content, Capcom’s roadmap points to strong and ongoing support. Indeed, the publisher intends to update and maintain the game with new stuff for an entire console generation.
Speaking to trade mag MCV, Street Fighter Brand Manager Brian Ayers reiterated Capcom’s intention not to release any Super or Ultra-style sub-sequels, saying that Street Fighter V “is the only version that you’ll ever need”.
“You’ll never have to buy or be forced to buy another iteration further down the line, explained Ayers. “What that means is you don’t split the player base. Everyone can always just buy that game and know that two, three years down the line and know they can jump back in whether they are just spectating or being a competitor.”
“We want Street Fighter V to last a console generation,” he continued. “That’s a very brave move from the business side of things. But that is how we are looking at the product as well. It’s not: ‘right, get it out, it’s the first six months and then it’s done’. We’re talking lifetime on this now in years rather than quarters, which I think is quite telling in itself.”
Heartening news for Street Fighter fans then. Get your arcade sticks ready, SFV is almost here and it’s gonna be around for a long, long time.
Capcom's roadmap for Street Fighter V. Click for bigger version.
[Thanks, Recruit]