Sega Unveils New Virtua Fighter Game with In-Engine Footage
Sega has released new in-engine footage of the highly anticipated next installment in the Virtua Fighter franchise. The new footage was revealed during NVIDIA’s keynote at CES 2025, offering fans a glimpse at the proposed look and feel of the upcoming title.
Virtua Fighter has been largely dormant for nearly two decades, with the last major release being the 2021 remaster Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown. However, the series is now set to return with a completely new entry, marking a significant milestone for the franchise.
The showcased footage, while not actual gameplay, highlights the game’s visual direction. Moving away from the franchise’s signature polygonal style, the footage reveals a more realistic aesthetic, reminiscent of modern fighters like Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. The trailer features Akira, Virtua Fighter’s iconic protagonist, in updated outfits, ditching his classic look.
The game is being developed by Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, known for their work on the Yakuza series, and will mark the first new Virtua Fighter game in over 15 years.
Sega has kept most details under wraps, but project director Riichirou Yamada previously hinted at a fresh direction for the series. The company is clearly committed to revitalizing Virtua Fighter, with Sega President Shuji Utsumi declaring, “Virtua Fighter is finally back!”
The new game is expected to release alongside the Virtua Fighter 5 remaster on Steam in January 2025.
