Type: Tom's Guide's interview with producer Riichiro Yamada.
In an interview published on October 28, 2025, producer Riichiro Yamada said he wants other fighting-game developers to look at the new Virtua Fighter and copy it.
"I want other fighting game developers to see what we're doing and copy us," Yamada said, adding that Virtua Fighter has a long history as one of the pioneers of the 3D fighting game genre.
Two to three years spent deciding how to bring the series back
Sega had discussed reviving Virtua Fighter before, but according to Yamada those conversations had not produced a new game.
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown was described as a turning point — its global launch convinced Sega the time had come to bring the series back.
"Since this would be a brand-new game and not a remake, there were discussions about how to do it right," Yamada said, and internal talks about how to build a genuinely new entry took roughly two to three years.
Defense that moves instead of remaining static
Yamada wanted movement in the new game to look and feel like a kung fu movie, including how characters block.
"I wanted movement in the new Virtua Fighter to look and feel cool, like in a Kung Fu movie," he said. "I want battles to have an element of flow, and the same is true for blocking. Dynamic blocking is one way to make this game stand out from others."
In the released footage, fighters move their arms and bodies in response to individual strikes instead of holding a single static blocking pose. The interview did not reveal dynamic blocking's inputs, frame properties or exact relationship to the established guard system.
Gameplay remains the priority, with a stronger narrative
The involvement of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (the Like a Dragon/Yakuza team) naturally raised questions about how much story the new project would contain.
"I really want to emphasize gameplay," Yamada said. "Without good gameplay, people won't continue playing your game. So we're really concentrating most on that aspect."
He added that, even so, "we will have a stronger narrative with the new Virtua Fighter Project" than earlier entries, citing Wolf Hawkfield's teaser — which showed his former wrestling team and the physical cost of his career — as an example of giving a fighter more history.
What the interview did not confirm
The interview did not provide a final release date, platforms or a complete roster.
It also did not confirm whether dynamic blocking is a separate mechanic or a visual treatment of conventional guarding, so the control scheme and competitive balance could not be determined from the footage alone.
This article includes only producer statements traceable to the source and details directly visible in official footage.
Original interview and official video