Street Fighter 6 Producer Reveals How He Helped Save Capcom’s Iconic Fighting Game Franchise From ‘Dying’
Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise nearly “died” during the Street Fighter V era, according to producer Shuhei Matsumoto, who revealed the dire circumstances surrounding the game’s troubled development and launch. Street Fighter V shipped in February 2016 in an unfinished state, lacking fundamental features such as arcade mode and story mode, while also suffering from severely broken netplay that alienated players.
The franchise’s prospects deteriorated significantly following this poor launch. Leadership changes proved crucial to the series’ survival: Yoshinori Ono, the previous producer, eventually departed from Capcom, and Shuhei Matsumoto took over as producer near the end of Street Fighter V’s lifespan. Working alongside director Takayuki Nakayama, Matsumoto implemented changes aimed at rebuilding the franchise’s reputation and player trust.
Matsumoto’s candid acknowledgment of how close the franchise came to collapse underscores the severity of Street Fighter V’s failures and the importance of decisive action to salvage struggling series. The turnaround efforts proved successful, with Street Fighter 6 ultimately delivering the polished experience that players had wanted from its predecessor. His account demonstrates how technical failures and incomplete launches can damage a major franchise, but also how strong leadership and commitment to addressing player concerns can reverse course and restore player confidence in the series.