The revolutionary 3D fighting game series from the 90's returns...or at least in a remastered capacity. Initially released in 2006 and ported to home consoles in 2007 on the PS3 and Xbox 360, Virtua Fighter 5 been the last time the community had seen an entry in the series. It had been hinted several months back, but now Sega's iconic franchise is coming back as a part of their eSports initiative announced back in April.

Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown has been announced for the PlayStation 4, it will be available free, as a part of Sony's PlayStation Plus lineup for June. With new sharpened HD visuals (it will run on the Dragon Engine, the same engine utilized for Yakuza 6 and Yakuza Kiwami 2), the return of classic modes like Arcade, Ranked Match, Versus, and training, along with new online features like "Tournament" and "League".

A staple of the arcades in the 90's, Virtua Fighter was always renown for not only providing progressive steps for 3D fighting games, but as the series progressed, its reputation for its purity earned it the title of being the purest fighting game for its era. Virtua Fighter 5 for the PlayStation 3 didn't feature online play, severely crippling its appeal. Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, the last incarnation at the time, was released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012, and would be the definitive port, but many fans had long gravitated to other 3D fighters like the more accessible Tekken, Dead Or Alive, and Soul Calibur.

While the series has been labeled incredibly advanced and very technical for players not familiar with the franchise, this could be a litmus test for Sega to see if reinvesting in fighting games is a path worth taking. The company's AM2 fighters, which include Fighting Vipers, Last Bronx, Virtual-On: Cyber Troopers, and Sonic the Fighters, could possibly see revisions. As tournament venues like EVO contemplate opening back up with the world gradually progressing through the darker days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sega may be interested in throwing their name back into the fighting game scene. 

Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown comes to the PlayStation 4 June 1st.