Whereas Daigo Umehara isn’t dissatisfied with the present state of Street Fighter 6, he says the sport’s “random” type makes it troublesome to decide the very best participant in trendy match settings.
Evo 2026 is within the books, with Saul ‘MenaRD’ Mena as soon as once more claiming victory on the largest stage in all of combating video games. It’s laborious to argue towards his present standing as essentially the most dominant Street Fighter 6 participant, with two Capcom Cup championships and 4 Evo victories to his identify… however Daigo Umehara isn’t certain a true ‘GOAT’ of the sport has but been topped.
We obtained the possibility to sit down with ‘The Beast’ of combating video games throughout Sunday finals, who revealed his stunning tackle the divisive nature of Street Fighter 6’s stability because it stands on the tail finish of Season 3.
Proper now, the Western combating sport group (FGC) is vocally outspoken relating to Street Fighter 6’s Drive Rush mechanic, arguing that the software is just too overpowered and laborious to ‘examine’ even at the very best of occasions — one thing that left gamers much more disillusioned after Capcom advised us they’ve no plans to make any gameplay modifications at current.
This was information to Daigo, who admitted that though the sport is ‘random,’ he sees each the optimistic and destructive sides of this explicit coin, particularly the place tournaments are involved.
“The random components within the gameplay that exist now are doing a good job of bringing in new gamers, so I’m not towards that,” he advised us. “I’m by no means dissatisfied with this concept that [Capcom] aren’t going to make main modifications [to Street Fighter 6]. The one factor is, I really feel like, with the best way this sport works, it is laborious for an very best participant to emerge, so you find yourself with this kind of fluctuation in who’s doing the very best at any given time. I would really like to see an absolute champion emerge, and I would really like for the occasions to facilitate that.”
Once we introduced up the favored sentiment that MenaRD is basically thought of the GOAT of Street Fighter 6, Daigo wasn’t in whole settlement, regardless of acknowledging his standout efficiency within the sport’s professional circuit.
“Even at Evo proper now, he is clearly doing rather well, however I would like it to go even additional than that,” he mused. “I don’t suppose that it is up to Mena to obtain that. It is extra in regards to the guidelines of the occasions.”
Daigo Says SF6 Tournaments Would Profit From Longer Units
After asking him for clarification, Daigo stated that the principles for tournaments inside the Capcom Pro Tour limit gameplay to such a diploma that it doesn’t enable gamers sufficient time to really get a really feel for his or her opponents — one thing that got here as no shock from somebody well-known for his legendary ‘First to 10’ units.
Proper now, the Capcom Pro Tour dictates a ‘First to Three’ (or Better of 5) format for matches inside Prime 8 brackets, whereas video games prior to that use a ‘First to Two’ (or Better of Three) format. For Daigo, this merely isn’t sufficient time to get a grip on the battle, and he’d a lot favor a ‘First to 5’ format for preliminary units, as a substitute.
“At the moment, tournaments are formatted on this ‘First to Two’ construction, which may be very casual-leaning, and it is the identical factor as what you’ll get in ranked matches whenever you play on-line,” he defined. “All people already is aware of that there isn’t any method to win constantly in that format, even in ranked whenever you play on-line. However I additionally perceive that this informal format is what brings in plenty of gamers. It’s not one thing I oppose inherently, however I feel for extra essential occasions like Capcom Cup, they need to change to a ‘First to Three’ construction or longer.
“With these larger occasions like Capcom Cup, as a result of they’re as soon as a 12 months, it might be higher to go longer, like begin at ‘First to 5’ within the qualifiers after which go up to ‘First to Seven’ or one thing. However the issue is, there’s a restrict on how lengthy these occasions may be, so it doesn’t appear possible. But when we’re simply speaking ideally, possibly have the occasion itself final extra like a week or ten days lengthy, simply because it’s solely as soon as a 12 months. If I have been a youthful participant and actually set on profitable that prize with cash, the present guidelines could be form of a bummer.”
MenaRD “Break up” on Daigo’s Feedback In regards to the Hunt For Street Fighter 6 ‘GOAT’
We obtained the possibility to converse with Mena following his resounding victory at Evo 2026, the place we requested him about his ideas on Daigo’s sentiments relating to the present CPT match construction and whether or not or not it’s really attainable to crown a ‘GOAT’ in these situations.
“There’s a facet of me that might agree,” he admitted. “After all, I would like essentially the most quantity of talent to dictate each championship, and as gamers, I really feel prefer it’s inevitable to really feel that method. On the identical time, if you consider the product itself and the way boring it may change into to a lot of individuals [if that structure were in place], I’m undecided if it’s the suitable step [to take]. I’m a little bit cut up on that. I feel for the product itself, if we wish individuals to watch Street Fighter, we want to have a fast format that individuals can get pleasure from. However as a participant, after all, I would like not ‘First to Seven’ matches, however ‘First to 200.’”
For now, Capcom a minimum of believes that Street Fighter 6 is in a stable spot, and MenaRD’s prowess isn’t exhibiting any indicators of stopping anytime quickly. It stays to be seen if Yasmine’s addition to the game will change up the meta in a significant method, or if Mena and his Blanka will proceed to ravage the competitors going into the remainder of the aggressive season.
Todd Gutierrez, Natalia Martinez / Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s obtained a storied background within the combating sport group, influencer information, and viral on-line developments. Discover her on Twitter at (*6*).