Sega Launches Virtua Fighter on Steam with VF5 REVO Release

This winter marks a significant event for gaming enthusiasts as Sega is set to launch Virtua Fighter 5 REVO on Steam for the very first time. Enthusiasts will recognize this as the fifth major installment in the iconic fighting game series that originally hit the scene back in 2006. Fans recently got a teaser from a Sega executive hinting at a “new” Virtua Fighter, and while it’s not the anticipated Virtua Fighter 6, it’s yet another exciting version of the long-standing Virtua Fighter 5.

Now, while some might have been crossing their fingers for a fresh chapter, Virtua Fighter 5 REVO comes packed with noteworthy updates that add a fresh twist to the classic game. According to Sega, this latest release is slated to include rollback netcode support for smoother online battles and stunning 4K visuals, complete with updated high-resolution textures. Alongside these visual upgrades, players can expect various game balance adjustments across REVO’s roster of 19 fighters.

The development team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the creative minds also responsible for Like A Dragon and Judgment, are behind these enhancements. They promise a range of gameplay modes such as ranked, arcade, training, and versus. Plus, for those with a competitive edge, the game will support 16-player online tournaments and leagues.

To take a retrospective glance, Virtua Fighter 5 originally made its debut in arcades in 2006 and entered the home gaming sphere via the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the following year. A subsequent iteration, Virtua Fighter 5 R, was released in 2008 and brought players a new character, Jean Kujo, while reintroducing the sumo wrestler, Taka-Arashi. This was followed by the release of Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown in arcades in 2010, with it making its way to PS3 and Xbox 360 by 2012. Interestingly, Final Showdown even features in the virtual arcades of multiple games developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

In an interview with Video Games Chronicle earlier this month, Sega’s executive VP of global transmedia, Justin Scarpone, divulged that a new Virtua Fighter game was indeed being cooked up, sparking hopes for the much-desired Virtua Fighter 6. With Sega also delving into new projects for series like Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Crazy Taxi, excitement brewed for a fresh Virtua Fighter installment. However, for the time being, longtime fans will have to make do with this enhanced version of Virtua Fighter 5, which promises a solid experience while they continue to await new horizons.