As the fighting game genre experiences a powerful resurgence in recent years, SEGA has officially joined the momentum with the revival of one of its most iconic franchises — Virtua Fighter. Long requested by fans and speculated for months, the new Virtua Fighter entry, still unnamed at this stage, made a striking return during EVO 2025 with its first real-time gameplay reveal.
What makes this latest entry even more exciting is the fact that it’s being developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team best known for the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. The studio’s involvement sparked immense curiosity, especially after the initial teaser, which featured cinematic visuals but lacked confirmed gameplay elements.
Now, at EVO 2025, SEGA and RGG Studio have finally lifted the curtain on what the game will actually look and feel like in motion.
Virtua Fighter Gameplay Showcase at EVO 2025
The new gameplay footage features the fighter Stella in an intense 1v1 battle. Unlike the concept teaser released previously, which leaned more toward stylised, cinematic animation, this new trailer offers a genuine look at in-game fighting mechanics.
With fluid movement and a slick visual style, it’s believed that the game is powered by the Dragon Engine, known for its detailed animations and dynamic camera work. Gameplay appears to retain the signature depth and speed of Virtua Fighter, but introduces some intriguing new mechanics.
One such detail is a red glowing mark visible on Stella’s face during combat, potentially a weak point system that could lead to higher damage if targeted successfully. Perhaps the most talked-about addition is the game’s knockout animation system.
In one showcased moment, the final blow zooms in dramatically on the opponent’s face, complete with slow-motion impact, stunning particle effects, and even a touch of dark humour as teeth visibly fly from the character’s mouth. The feature draws comparisons to NetherRealm’s iconic X-Ray attacks from the Mortal Kombat series, but with a unique Virtua Fighter twist.
Despite the exciting reveal, SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have not yet provided a release window or official title for the new Virtua Fighter game. However, the gameplay’s appearance at EVO 2025 has undoubtedly reignited interest in the series and confirmed that Virtua Fighter is not only alive, but evolving.
