Street Fighter 6 is approaching its second anniversary in June 2025, and things are looking up for Capcom's latest fighting game. The game is almost done with its second season of DLC, so its third year could kick off with the reveal of the next set of characters at the Summer Game Fest showcase. Having finally broken into the realm of guest characters with long-time SNK rivals Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui, Street Fighter 6 is on top of its game, and another major balance patch in a few months should keep its player base feeling the same way.
Even with some degree of player fatigue settling in, it's easy to justify Street Fighter 6’s strong position with a quick glance at its sales. Street Fighter 6 surpassed 4.4 million units sold by the end of 2024, and Capcom should provide an even greater total once its financial year ends after March 2025. Some Capcom fans will no doubt be occupied by the recent launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, but both of Capcom's best-selling franchises have had no trouble coexisting in the past as their post-launch support continued. SF6 should continue to sell well, but those sales also have a harsh expectation attached.
After Fatal Fury, Street Fighter 6 Has Another Crossover Opportunity Waiting in the Wings
Following the recent announcement of a legendary fighting game series making a comeback, Street Fighter 6 should continue the collaboration trend.
Street Fighter 6’s Sales Are Already Pulling Ahead
Compared To Street Fighter 5, SF6 Is Moving Units Fast
In an interview with Famitsu that was posted in May 2023, Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimito stated that Street Fighter 6 was projected to reach a lifetime sales target of 10 million copies. That sounds like a lot, especially for a fighting game that isn't Mortal Kombat or Super Smash Bros., but the face of the genre is doing well for itself. Selling 4.4 million in less than two years leaves Street Fighter 6 well on its way to meeting its goal, and already in better shape than its predecessor.
By the end of January 2023, Street Fighter 5 had sold 7 million units in just under 7 years. SF6 drawing near caused its momentum to slow considerably, but it still reached 7.4 million by the end of December 2023. However, as evidenced by Tekken 7 selling 12 million copies in a similar 7-year timeframe, early disappointment, console exclusivity, and multiple controversies have held SF5 back. This was quickly remedied when Street Fighter 6 sold 3.77 million in its first year, more than twice what SF5 moved in its initial year, but the newer entry has a long time to go before it outdoes its predecessor.
A 10 Million Lifetime Sales Target Could Give Street Fighter 6 Trouble
It’s going to take a while for Street Fighter 6 to reach its target of 10 million sales, though. Even with Xbox Series and PS5 skews in addition to Street Fighter 5’s PC and PS4 platforms, Street Fighter 6 is only around halfway to its goal in a couple of years, and it's going to take more than just a couple to clear the remaining distance. Sales slow down over time, and even though Street Fighter 6 has demonstrated an admirable pace that was higher than SF5’s, Capcom will need to keep updating SF6 and enticing new players to salvage its momentum.
How Street Fighter 6 Can Meet Its Sales Goals
Some creativity may be necessary to ensure SF6 stays afloat, and, for all of its missteps, Street Fighter 5 left behind a good blueprint for keeping sales flowing. Selling an updated version of SF6, like several past Street Fighter games have done, will help people feel caught-up with the continuing DLC. Modern SF is now able to sell these as digital upgrade paths and distinct releases as well, further driving sales. If Street Fighter 6 can also add some big features to its mode selection like SF5 did with Arcade Mode, it has a shot at hitting its goals in a few years.
Street Fighter 6
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
