An opinion piece focusing on the roster of "Virtua Fighter: Crossroads" proposes that Kage-Maru, Vanessa Lewis, Shun Di, and Jean Renard should return, while Brad Burns should not occupy one of the limited slots. This is the author's casting suggestion and not an official list of new fighters announced by Sega.
The article suggests that this installment may adopt both the return of veteran characters and the inheritance of their moves by newcomers. The new character Lionel Rafale has inherited Lion Rafale's Mantis Boxing techniques, while returning veterans like Chen Pei and Wolf appear with more mature designs. Other mentioned new characters include Cielo, who uses an MMA style, and the mysterious Bakunawa Killer. Akira Yuki has been confirmed to return, while sumo wrestler Taka-Arashi was excluded in developer interviews.
Among the four characters suggested for a return, the author most hopes to see Kage-Maru, citing his ninja appearance, signature moves like Oboro Throw, and his irreplaceable status as a series icon. Vanessa Lewis's dual stance fighting style could add diversity to the roster, while Shun Di's Drunken Fist would be well-suited for passing down to a younger disciple.
The author also believes that Jean Renard could participate in the new storyline through his Karate style and his past relationship with Lion Rafale. In contrast, Brad Burns's flamboyant movie star persona clashes with Vilasapara's narrow streets, street-level struggles, and semi-realistic narrative tone, making him unsuitable for the game's limited roster.