NuckleDu Apologizes After Higuchi Speaks on His Guile Departure

There are certain characters that become inseparable from specific players over the lifespan of a game. Across the long history of competitive Street Fighter, a few of these pairings have become iconic. Tokido’s Akuma in Street Fighter V, Momochi’s Ken in Street Fighter IV, or Daigo’s Evil Ryu, all instantly recognizable to fans.

When it comes to Guile, one name has always stood above the rest: NuckleDu. The former Capcom Cup champion was one of the most dominant players of his generation, and after an enforced hiatus, he returned to competitive Street Fighter and immediately picked up where he left off. Deep tournament runs and top-level performances once again became the norm.

Recently, however, that association has begun to shift. More fans are now linking NuckleDu with Mai Shiranui rather than the American military man, a change that has been met with mixed emotions, particularly among those who admired him as a Guile specialist.

That sentiment came to a head in a video featuring Japanese Guile player Higuchi, who recently qualified for Capcom Cup. Higuchi expressed sadness over NuckleDu’s switch, pointing out that true Guile specialists are becoming increasingly rare. According to him, only Higuchi, Rainpro, and Caba have consistently stuck with the character.

Even then, Higuchi stands somewhat alone. Rainpro is known to keep a pocket Bison, while Caba has occasionally experimented with Cammy. Higuchi, by contrast, has remained unwavering in his dedication to Guile.

NuckleDu later responded with a short message, apologizing if his character switch caused any disappointment and reaffirming his respect for Japanese players and the Guile loyalists.

In the replies, several fans suggested the situation was likely a language-based misunderstanding. While Higuchi may have genuinely felt disappointed, it was never meant as a serious criticism, and the mutual respect between the two players remains intact.

With Capcom Cup 12 now on the horizon, NuckleDu will have another opportunity to showcase his world-class skill, whether with Guile, Mai, or anything in between.