Virtua Fighter 5 producer sees eSports as ‘Stepping stone’ to Virtua Fighter 6

Virtua Fighter fans, rejoice. After fifteen years of waiting, peppered with nought but the odd port and smartphone game, key creative talent Seiji Aoki has paved the way for the possibility of a sixth entry.

Yes, Virtua Fighter 5 really did hit the scene in 2006, and yes, it’s making this reporter feel a bit old. Since then, fans of the influential bash-em-up franchise, the brainchild of Yu Suzuki and Seiichi Ishii which debuted in 1993, have clamoured for it to step into the ring once more (quite literally).

Despite the occasional glimmer of hope in the form of HD touch-ups of past games and some redesigned arcade cabinets, there’s been squat in terms of a new mainline title.

As PSU reports, though, Aoki sees the franchise’s recent eSports prevalence as a means to an end; that end being, hopefully, Virtua Fighter 6. If it’s going to happen – and there’s always a possibility it won’t, given that we’re dealing with Mr. ‘I’ve Never Heard Of That Series In My Life’ SEGA here – Aoki stresses it “would have to provide some meaningful innovation to the genre.” One wonders what he means, as there’s only so many ways you can shake up two blokes beating the proverbials out of one another. VR fights, perhaps? Less Virtua, more VirtuaL Fighter. By cheque, please.

According to the report, “SEGA didn’t give VF eSports the green light until it was combined with the studio’s 60th anniversary celebrations.” Well, that’s still more of an anniversary celebration than some series get.

Not only will this “help gauge interest in the franchise,” but also “‘cultivate an audience’ as any potential VF 6 would take around three-five years to make.” In other words, if you’re after a sixth game, better tune into those streams, and preferably donate.

Are you a fan of Virtua Fighter? Would you want to see a sixth mainline entry after so long? Will you be supporting its eSports drive? Let us know!

Via, PSU.