Capcom deserves a lot of credit for making it a priority to design fighters that appeal to a wide audience. In terms of race, nationality, gender and fighting style, the starting roster of Street Fighter 6 is very inclusive and reflects the diversity of the franchise's fan base.
It would be an impossible task for a roster of 18 characters to achieve universal representation -- this is simply an unrealistic expectation. While there are still holes to fill, these characters present a great starting point in terms of inclusivity. The origins of hand-to-hand combat go back centuries. Different styles developed in every corner of the globe and often influenced the traditions and cultures in which they were conceived and perfected. Street Fighter has always celebrated the deep history of combat through its characters, and in this regard, Street Fighter 6 has the potential to be the series' greatest achievement yet.
What Characters Are on Street Fighter 6's Roster?
The starting roster sees six brand-new characters, four of whom are female. Twelve returning favorites, who all bring their own brand of personality, make up the rest of the cast. Of the 18 characters, seven are female and ten are people of color. 13 nationalities from four different continents are represented, as are their preferred fighting styles.
Ryu and Ken will make their inevitable return as the faces of the Street Fighter franchise. Hailing from Japan and the United States, respectively, these protagonists bring their own unique karate fighting styles to the lineup, along with their steadfast determination to be the strongest they can possibly be. Also making their triumphant returns are Street Fighter's first two female characters. Self-described as "the strongest woman in the world," Chun-Li is one of the most recognized and beloved characters in all video game history. A Chinese martial artist, she's hell-bent on avenging her father's death at the hands of M. Bison. Cammy, also known by her code name Killer Bee, is a Shadaloo fighter who works as an M16 operative for the British government.
Japanese Sumo grand master E. Honda joins Russian grappler Zangief on the starting roster. Both are mammoth and imposing figures with big hearts and even bigger personalities. Also entering the fray are Guile, a martial artist and major in the U.S. Air Force, Dhalsim, the pacifist vegetarian and Indian Esoteric Yoga Master, Blanka, the electric Brazilian berserker, Juri, the South Korean sadist, Dee Jay, the Jamaican kickboxer who will make his hotly anticipated return, and Luke, the final character to be released in Street Fighter 5 -- whom many believe to be the future face of the franchise.
What Do We Know About Street Fighter 6's New Characters?
There is not very much information about most of the new characters on the starting roster, but two of them have had quite of bit of media exposure and garnered a lot of fan interest. Kimberly is the first female African American character in Street Fighter. She is a young, fun-loving fan of 1980s pop culture and a Kunoichi fighter trained in the Bushinrya style. Jamie, on the other hand, brings a real pop of energy to the game as a break-dancing Drunken Fist fighter from Hong Kong.
Little is known about the remaining characters as so far, Capcom has held back on releasing many details. Marisa is a giant from Italy who appears to be a grappler. Lily is an Indigenous woman from Mexico with possible Aztec ancestry. With his flowing white beard, JP is the senior member of the cast and is most likely Russian, and the only information known about Manon is that she's from France.
How Can Street Fighter 6's Roster Improve?
Starting rosters in fighting games can be contentious, especially when popular characters are excluded. There is often a lot of debate and disagreement surrounding the wisdom of the developer's decisions. The Street Fighter 6 starting roster is no exception, as many fans are upset at not seeing their favorite characters make it. In terms of inclusiveness and representation, however, there is a consensus that Capcom did a very commendable job. That being said, there is still room for improvement.
Rashid did not make the cut as the only representative of the Middle East. There is also a glaring omission of an African character. Perhaps Capcom will amend this in future DLC, as many fans would love to see the return of Elena. Capcom might also take inspiration from characters such as Leo from Tekken and Bridget from Guilty Gear, who both address themes of sexuality and gender identity that are sorely unrepresented in video games.
Street Fighter 6 is shaping up to be one of the most hotly anticipated releases of 2023. Capcom has done a great job in how it has marketed and teased the game. The graphics, gameplay and game modes have the potential to be revolutionary. Equally important for any fighting game are the characters, and the developers understand this. They have curated and crafted a starting roster that is as exciting as it is diverse. Capcom aimed to achieve representation through inclusivity and has succeeded. The starting roster has set a commendable foundation, and if Street Fighter 6 continues this trend with future DLC, the result could be the most exciting cast of characters fighting games have ever seen.