Street Fighter Director Says Dev & Esports Teams Operate Separately

Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama addressed criticism over Capcom’s decision to make the Capcom Cup 12 Finals and Street Fighter League World Championship pay-per-view. He explained that the development team and esports division are separate units, and he and producer Shuhei Matsumoto were “shocked” by the announcement. He apologized for any concern caused and said they are discussing the issue.

Nakayama’s comments align with reports that Capcom’s esports division, not its development wing, decided to monetize the finals’ broadcasts. This drew backlash from the fighting game community, especially overseas fans, who argued that paywalls on marquee events hurt promotional reach. Nakayama seems to suggest there is some internal tensions and communication gaps within Capcom.