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This last week, Sega and Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio released Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage on consoles and PC. It brought the rollback netcode of REVO’s PC version to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well crossplay as making Dural playable in the base roster and stage selection. We also got a new offline mode, allowing players to test themselves against a computer-controlled gauntlet in a new single-player quest. By all accounts, this might be the last chapter of VF5 before the next big thing Sega is working on, so we spoke to Seiji Aoki about the release, its support, community feedback, and what comes next as the franchise transitions to a new generation. Meeting community requests head-on One of the bigger additions to World Stage was the addition of a proper single-player mode. Virtua Fighter 5 has had an arcade mode, but there hadn’t really been an extensive single-player mode in the game, and that remained a request that players had for Virtua Fighter 5 up to this point. "Up until now we have been receiving comments that they would like a more in-depth single-player mode,” Aoki told us. “And before, the Quest mode was very popular. A lot of people have been wanting that back. On our official Discord and X, we were receiving a lot of comments like that. So that's why we decided to create this new World Stage mode. We've been trying to listen to those voices and that's how we've been progressing with creating new elements for the game.” Delivering multiplatform this time was also a priority, as the original Virtua Fighter 5 REVO was released only on PC, narrowing the player base despite previous versions of Virtua Fighter 5 being on consoles as well. “Other people will be able to play on other platforms as well,” Aoki added. “It's available on PS5, Xbox, and Steam this time. It used to be only on Steam, so we had people who were not able to play because they were on other platforms. But now that it's also on Xbox and PS5 alongside Steam, I hope that a lot more people will be able to play the game.” Discord more than anything has been a bit of a North Star for the developers, as their community has been constructive in telling the developers what they want and in what way they would want these things. For Aoki, who came from work on the arcade games, it was a bit jarring at first with a lack of direct in-person feedback on consoles and Steam. However, as the team has grown and adapted to new trends, it has also learned to take feedback and implement it in different ways. “Thanks to the fans,” Aoki explained. “We have a strong community and I really feel that the developers and the fans are connected via Discord because the developers are able to see the responses directly from the fans and the users using that channel. We have been able to establish an environment where good communications are done between the developers and the users, and we’re able to plan based on direct feedback. Making ready for the new generation The looming topic overhead when it comes to the Virtua Fighter franchise is that the next one is in development and many fans are excited for it. However, we have no idea when that game is coming. Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku have told us in the past that the goal is to make sure everything feels good, that it feels like a proper Virtua Fighter even as it evolves the brand. Still, that means it’s up to Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage to keep the brand refreshed and exciting until then, and that’s a role Aoki carries with respect. “The new Virtue Fighter isn’t out, so it's been a very long time since the last game was released,” Aoki said. “And that's why I’m happy that I’m able to release this new World Stage version of the game at this time. I also want to say thank you to the fans, because without the fans, we wouldn't be able to release this new version. So, thank you very much.” Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It will also eventually come to Nintendo Switch 2, but regardless, crossplay is included, allowing players to battle across any available platform. The next Virtua Fighter might be a ways off, but with Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage to keep us company until then, maybe the wait won’t be so bad. Stay tuned to the Virtua Fighter series topic for more updates.
