Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto stated that during the Street Fighter 5 era, the team noticed that players familiar with the series were aging, and they worried that if they couldn't attract a new generation of players, the series might be difficult to sustain within ten years. To address this, the team reconsidered how new players could enter the game while developing Street Fighter 6.
Shuhei Matsumoto recalls that the player base at the time was roughly between 35 and 45 years old. He emphasizes that the internal judgment that the series would be difficult to sustain within ten years prompted the team to take action, but this does not mean there was ever an official decision to terminate the series. Director Takayuki Nakayama also faced this issue alongside him.
The team believes that while many people have heard of Street Fighter and know it features competitive fighting, this doesn't necessarily mean they're willing to play it themselves. Therefore, Street Fighter 6 doesn't assume new players are already familiar with the series; instead, it reintroduces the characters, controls, and how to get into matches.
Modern Controls, World Tour, Battle Hub, and real-time commentary from community members are all design choices in this title aimed at lowering the barrier to entry. As of summer 2026, Street Fighter 6 has sold over 7 million copies.