Capcom Producer Aims to Revive Classic Fighting Games for Modern Consoles

Capcom producer Shuhei Matsumoto is eager to introduce more of the company’s beloved classic fighting games to modern consoles, especially with the upcoming release of Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Capcom has always been a powerhouse in the realm of 2D fighting games, with iconic franchises such as Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and Marvel vs. Capcom. Yet, many of these classics have been absent from the modern gaming scene, leaving fans longing for the nostalgia of their arcade and home gaming experiences from years past.

In response, Capcom has been working to change that by rolling out collections of these timeless fighting games on current-gen platforms. It all kicked off with the 2022 Capcom Fighting Collection, which featured ten classics, including every Darkstalkers game, for the PS4 and Xbox One. This was followed by the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, which allowed players to experience the full Marvel vs. Capcom series complete with new online multiplayer capabilities. Capcom Fighting Collection 2, slated for a May 16 release, will further expand the availability of these games, including titles like SNK vs. Capcom and classic 3D fighters such as Powerstone.

Matsumoto’s ambition doesn’t stop there. In a conversation with Japanese magazine Inside Games, he shared his aspiration to bring even more historic Capcom fighters back into play on today’s systems, noting that several of these games remain inaccessible on modern consoles. These efforts are inclusive of Xbox platforms, which almost missed out on last year’s Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics but received a quiet release on Xbox One recently. Fortunately, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 will be launching on Xbox One right out of the gate, thanks to technical discussions with Microsoft.

By May, fans can finally enjoy many of Capcom’s legendary 2D and 3D fighters on current consoles with the release of Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Still, there are a number of intriguing titles in Capcom’s archive, like 1999’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, that face obstacles like licensing issues before they can be re-released. Matsumoto remains hopeful, though, that new generations of gamers will eventually have the chance to delve into more of these classic games, ranging from cult classics to the heavy hitters of the fighting genre.

Capcom’s journey, since its founding on June 11, 1983, in Osaka, has been steered by CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto and supported by its array of subsidiaries like Capcom U.S.A. and Capcom Vancouver, to name a few. As the company continues to bridge the past with the future, it holds the anticipation of fans eager to relive the golden days of fighting games or experience them anew for the first time.