Daigo Puts Capcom on the Spot as SF6 Team Hints More Balance Changes

One of the biggest talking points to emerge from the recently concluded Japan Esports Awards was the possibility of more balance patches for Street Fighter 6.

As part of the awards festivities, Daigo Umehara sat down with Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto for a short on-stage discussion. After jokingly asking for Akuma buffs, Daigo turned the conversation toward the future of the game and the team’s plans moving forward.

It was here that Matsumoto acknowledged the backlash surrounding the most recent balance patch. He confirmed that the development team has heard the community’s concerns and is now reconsidering both the frequency and scope of future patches. While no concrete promises were made, the message was clear: the team is more open to making meaningful changes than before.

Street Fighter 6 remains hugely popular worldwide, but its impact in Japan is especially notable, where it has become something of a cultural phenomenon within the competitive scene.

Currently in its third season, the game has already teased the return of Alex, who is expected to arrive in the coming months, with Ingrid set to round out the Season 3 roster before Season 4 begins later in the year. While the game’s core quality remains high, some players feel it is in danger of growing stale, with relatively little changing over the past three years beyond the addition of new characters.

Capcom now finds itself walking a fine line. On one hand, the team will want to avoid a situation similar to Tekken 8’s controversial second season, where sweeping changes alienated parts of the player base. On the other, playing things too safe risks frustrating fans who are hungry for evolution.

Whether these comments signal real change or simply familiar reassurance remains to be seen. Similar statements were made back in 2024, yet little ultimately shifted. For now, the community waits to see if this time will truly be different.