Street Fighter 6 Producer: Franchise Could Have Died in 10 Years Without Change

Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto said the franchise was at risk of dying within a decade during the Street Fighter V era, when its player base skewed 35–45 years old. The team targeted a new generation with Modern controls and accessible modes, helping SF6 sell over seven million units by summer 2026.

• Street Fighter V's player base was roughly 35–45 years old, aging out within a decade
• Matsumoto and director Takayuki Nakayama rebuilt SF6 as if the current generation didn't know the IP
• Modern controls, World Tour and Battle Hub were key to reaching new players
• Street Fighter 6 has sold more than seven million units as of summer 2026