Wolf Hawkfield revealed for New Virtua Fighter Project, and a new focus on storytelling

The team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has shared a new glimpse of their work on the upcoming Virtua Fighter project, revealing the return of the character Wolf Hawkfield.

Art Director Ryo Shibasaki discusses Hawkfield’s new look, which has been updated for the game.

Producer Riichiro Yamad has mentioned that the next Virtua Fighter game will focus on delving deeper into the characters’ backstories, including returning legends from previous entries. The game will explore the motivations behind their fighting, what transpired between games, and how it ties into their character designs. This approach aims to bring more depth to the series.

Art Director Ryo Shibasaki also explains that Hawk’s design reflects that of a wrestler who continues to perform, with a cool and “heel” atmosphere. His appearance includes an ammo belt, heavy tattooing, and an older look, giving off an aging wrestling star vibe.

Prior to this update, the game showcased Akira and Sarah Bryant in combat, with a pre-production video featuring Akira battling.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has established itself as a key studio for Sega, known for the popular Yakuza/Like A Dragon series. They have also worked on recent Super Monkey Ball games. With their experience in combat mechanics from Yakuza, which has roots in Virtua Fighter, they are well-equipped to handle the series.

Additionally, the team confirmed that Virtua Fighter 5 REVO, after a successful PC revamp, will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.