Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio continue to work hard on the next Virtua Fighter game, having released several trailers that emphasize the fighting as the central focus of what we’ve seen so far. Entering an all-new chapter of this iconic series is no small feat, and we had the opportunity to sit down with producer Riichiro Yamada to discuss the balance of old versus new elements, Wolf’s redesign, and the approach behind the trailers released to date.
For Yamada, it is an honor to work on the newest Virtua Fighter installment. He expressed deep respect for the series’ early major contributors, especially Yu Suzuki, and shared that he feels both excited and nervous about carrying on that legacy.
One of the biggest challenges for the team has been deciding which features and elements of the series should be preserved, and which should be evolved to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. To help maintain this balance, the team includes a battle manager who was heavily involved in previous Virtua Fighter games. This ensures that the core aspects players expect remain intact and the fights stay as well-balanced as possible.
When it comes to new opportunities, Yamada explained that the team places significant focus on factors such as each character’s reasons for fighting and their positions within the series timeline, especially following Virtua Fighter 5.
Take fan-favorite character Wolf Hawkfield, for example. We’ve seen that he appears to be coming out of retirement to step back into the ring and compete once again. Yamada revealed that for Wolf’s return to professional wrestling, the developers emphasized the flashy, entertainment side of wrestling. This led to a redesign that moves Wolf toward a more showman-like persona, contrasting with the almost entirely athletic battle gear he sported in previous games.
Figuring out where the team can introduce new ideas like these while keeping the overall experience recognizable to longtime fans has been a difficult balancing act—one that Yamada considers every day.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146022/new-virtua-fighter-project-interview