Key Takeaways
1. SEGA released the first official gameplay footage of the upcoming Virtua Fighter Project on August 4, 2025, showcasing a duel between characters Stella and Akira Yuki in a Training Stage.
2. The gameplay trailer focuses on realistic fighting mechanics, lacking a HUD and background music, with more information expected at the Tokyo Game Show 2025 from September 25 to 28.
3. Fan reactions to the trailer are mixed, with some critiquing the lack of visual flair, but SEGA is committed to maintaining the realistic and fluid combat that defined the original game.
4. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, known for narrative-heavy games like Yakuza, is leading the development of the new Virtua Fighter Project, alongside their open-world game Project Century.
5. The new Virtua Fighter Project does not yet have an official title or release date, but speculation suggests a possible launch in Summer 2026, while Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O World Stage is set for release on October 20, 2025.
SEGA has at long last shared the first official footage of gameplay for its upcoming Virtua Fighter Project. This trailer, lasting a whole minute, shows intense and silent combat featuring a duel between Stella (not to be confused with Sarah Bryant) and Akira Yuki in a so-called Training Stage.
Gameplay Focused
The gameplay trailer dropped on August 4, 2025, and is devoid of any HUD or background music, emphasizing the realistic fighting mechanics that the new game aims to deliver. By the end of the trailer, SEGA indicated that more information about the new Virtua Fighter Project will be unveiled during the Tokyo Game Show 2025, which is set to take place from September 25 to September 28.
Fan Reactions
Earlier, on January 25, SEGA had put out a teaser that specifically stated the trailer featured “pre-development engine footage.” Fans have finally gotten a glance at official gameplay that aligns closely with what was shown in the teaser.
While some fans critique the game for not having enough visual flair and polish, this appears to be a deliberate design decision by SEGA. The company seems dedicated to preserving the realistic and fluid combat mechanics that made the original game, which first launched in December 1993, so appealing.
Development Insights
During the 2024 Game Awards in December, SEGA revealed that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is leading the development of the new Virtua Fighter Project. This news is somewhat unexpected, as the studio is primarily recognized for its narrative-heavy games like Yakuza.
In the same event, Ryu Ga Gotoku announced an entirely new open-world game, which caught many fans off guard. The studio seems to be balancing the new Virtua Fighter Project along with Project Century, now known as Stranger Than Heaven, which spans various eras from Japan’s Taisho period in 1915 to the Showa era of 1943. This game bears a striking similarity to the Yakuza series, but lacks the turn-based RPG mechanics seen in Like A Dragon.
No Release Date Yet
As for the new Virtua Fighter Project, it still awaits an official title and a concrete release window. Speculation hints at a possible launch in the Summer of 2026.
In the meantime, SEGA is gearing up to release Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O World Stage for Xbox Series S|X and PS5 on October 20, 2025.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O World Stage serves as a visual upgrade of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown and follows the PC release of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Additionally, it introduces a new single-player mode called “World Stage” and a fresh DLC character, Dural. A port for Nintendo Switch 2 is also in development and is expected to launch at a later time.
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