Street Fighter 6 Closed Beta refers to a pre-release version of the game Street Fighter 6 that is made available to a limited number of players for testing and feedback purposes. A closed beta allows game developers to gather valuable information about gameplay mechanics, balance, online functionality, and overall player experience. Participants in the closed beta typically have the opportunity to explore a portion of the game, test various characters and features, and provide feedback to help the developers make improvements before the official release of Street Fighter 6. It’s an exclusive opportunity for players to get an early taste of the game and contribute to its development process.
Capcom’s highly anticipated Street Fighter 6 is scheduled for release in June 2023, and this installment brings exciting news for fans as it expands its availability to include the Xbox family of consoles. This marks a significant milestone, as it is the first numbered Street Fighter game for Xbox since the release of Ultra Street Fighter 4 back in 2014. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience upon launch, Capcom has been conducting a series of Network Beta tests, following a similar approach they took with Street Fighter 5. The initial test took place in October, giving players a taste of what’s to come. More recently, from December 16th to 19th, a closed beta was held, granting fortunate participants who obtained beta codes the opportunity to delve into the game ahead of its official release. These beta tests serve as an essential step in fine-tuning gameplay mechanics, balancing characters, and testing the online infrastructure. With each beta, Capcom gathers valuable feedback from players, contributing to the game’s overall refinement and ensuring an optimized experience for all when Street Fighter 6 finally hits the shelves.
Street Fighter 6 Impresses with Striking Visuals and Capcom’s R.E Engine
The visuals in Street Fighter 6 immediately catch the eye with their incredible impact. Character models, menu screens, and overall visual style draw inspiration from street art, particularly graffiti. The game’s logo and opening screen showcase a vibrant color contrast, departing from the somewhat duller and muted palette of Street Fighter 5.
In a new move, Capcom has opted to utilize their own engine, the R.E Engine (Reach for the Moon). This engine has powered recent Capcom titles like Resident Evil Village and Monster Hunter Rise, showcasing its versatility and adaptability across different genres. Despite being a first for a fighting game, the R.E Engine demonstrates its robustness and ability to meet the creative needs of Capcom’s development teams. This stands in contrast to EA’s Frostbite engine, which has encountered difficulties when adapting to non-shooter games. The visual quality and performance of the R.E Engine truly speak to its excellence.
A Seamless Gaming Experience
Despite my initial expectations of encountering technical glitches and imperfections during the beta phase, I was pleasantly taken aback by the flawless performance of Street Fighter 6. It is evident that the development team at Capcom has dedicated substantial effort to ensure a polished and refined gameplay experience. One aspect that stood out to me was the range of performance options available in the game, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferences. As an enthusiast seeking top-notch visual fidelity, I opted to play the game on a PlayStation 5 in Fidelity Mode. This choice rewarded me with breathtaking 4K graphics that brought the vibrant world of Street Fighter to life. Moreover, the game maintained a commendable and unwavering 60 Frames Per Second (FPS), a crucial benchmark for fighting games that ensures smooth and responsive gameplay. The combination of stunning visuals and impeccable performance further enhanced my immersion in the intense battles, solidifying my anticipation for the game’s official release.
I was truly astonished by the game’s ability to deliver exceptional visual fidelity while maintaining a steady 60FPS, even with the abundance of visually immersive backgrounds. Capcom’s valuable lessons learned from the past six years of Street Fighter 5 are clearly evident in Street Fighter 6. This game not only captivates with its stunning visuals but also provides a flawless playing experience. Capcom has set an early benchmark for Street Fighter 6, establishing it as a visually breathtaking game that delivers impeccable performance.
Enhanced Online Experience
Capcom has made significant strides in improving the netcode for Street Fighter 6, after the frustrating and unpredictable experience of Street Fighter 5. They have developed their own rollback netcode similar to GGPO, which performed exceptionally well during the beta. This new netcode implementation ensures matches remain smooth and responsive, even under less-than-ideal network conditions, minimizing the impact of latency and mitigating issues associated with delay-based netcode. The result is an online experience that feels remarkably closer to offline play, generating renewed enthusiasm among the player community. Players eagerly look forward to experiencing the fruits of Capcom’s dedicated efforts to create a netcode that truly elevates the online multiplayer experience in Street Fighter 6.
One notable improvement is the inclusion of ping and delayed frame indicators at the top of the screen during matches. This valuable addition allows players to adapt to connections that may not be optimal for smooth gameplay. However, the true strength of the netcode shines in moments of poor connections. In Street Fighter 5, a bad connection often rendered the game nearly unplayable, resulting in frustrating slideshow-like experiences. While unstable connections can still present challenges, matches with 2 to 4 bar connections show remarkable improvement compared to its predecessor. These matches felt enjoyable to play, despite a slight increase in input delay to ensure a more stable connection. My overall experience with Street Fighter 6’s netcode was significantly more positive compared to the majority of my time with Street Fighter 5.
An Overview
In the previous section, we discussed the technical aspects of the beta, including netcode, graphics, and performance. Now, let’s delve into the exciting content of the game, such as the stages and character roster. Additionally, I will provide a breakdown of the characters I found most engaging and frequently utilized during my playtime.
- Addressing Past Criticisms: When Street Fighter 5 was initially launched in 2016, one common criticism was its lack of content, including a limited number of stages and a small starting roster of 16 fighters. Over time, the game expanded to include 40 characters and 34 stages. However, this growth came at a price, both for the game and its players.
- Stage Selection: During the beta, we had the opportunity to experience six diverse stages. The Training Ring, a staple in fighting games, provides a neutral environment for honing skills and practicing various attacks. The remaining stages, like Metro City Downtown, Genbu Temple, Carrier Byron Taylor, Tian Hong Yuan, and The Macho Ring, exemplify the traditional 2.5D style of Street Fighter games. These stages boast intricate and visually stunning backgrounds, each with its own distinct atmosphere and lore. From the dimly lit streets of Metro City to the iconic MMA Octagon of The Macho Ring, each stage showcases the potential of fully polished visuals, especially when combined with ray-tracing technology.
- Character Roster: Street Fighter 6 presents an expansive roster of fighters, addressing the earlier concerns about limited options. With a wide range of playstyles, abilities, and personalities, the character selection caters to various player preferences. Capcom has clearly invested time and effort into crafting each character, ensuring they stand out and contribute to the diverse gameplay experience.
In the following section, I will provide a detailed breakdown of the characters I found most captivating, highlighting their unique abilities, strengths, and playstyles. Join me as we explore the fighters that left a lasting impression in Street Fighter 6.
Characters in the Street Fighter 6 Closed Beta
During the Street Fighter 6 beta, players were able to choose from a total of eight characters. Five returning characters from previous games included Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, Juri, and Guile, while three new additions to the roster were introduced: Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly. Each character was unique in their move set and playstyle, offering players a diverse range of options to choose from.
While all characters received considerable playtime during the beta, many players, including myself, were drawn to Ryu, the iconic face of the series. Ryu’s move set felt familiar yet fresh, with new mechanics and combos that added depth to his gameplay. His signature moves, such as Hadoken and Shoryuken, felt more impactful and satisfying to execute than ever before. Additionally, Ryu’s V-System received significant changes, allowing for new combo opportunities and mix-up potential.
Ryu’s playstyle felt familiar, reminiscent of his Street Fighter 5 iteration. However, Capcom introduced some notable changes, including two new special moves: the Denjin Charge and Hashogeki. The Denjin Charge acts as a power-up move, enhancing Ryu’s next Hadouken or Hashogeki, resulting in increased damage. The Hashogeki, on the other hand, is a powerful fireball used primarily as a combo ender. These additions provide a fresh feel to Ryu’s gameplay, making him different from his previous iterations while maintaining a level of familiarity. Even players who haven’t touched a Street Fighter game in years will still find Ryu accessible and perform admirably.
Most of my time, however, was dedicated to exploring one of the new characters, Kimberly. She is a student of Bushinryu ninja and a former member of Guy’s crew. Incorporating her love for classic hip hop and graffiti, Kimberly’s move set combines traditional Bushinryu techniques with her unique flair.
In terms of gameplay, Kimberly utilizes some of Guy’s signature moves while incorporating her own distinct abilities. One of her notable features is a command run, which can be followed up with various attacks such as a spinning heel kick or a shoulder tackle akin to Guy’s moveset. At the start of each round, Kimberly possesses two Spray Cans that can be thrown as explosive projectiles, with the ability to restock them using a special move command.
What sets Kimberly apart from the majority of the cast is her Level 3 Super Attack. Initiated with a run start-up, this devastating attack inflicts significant damage. However, what makes it truly unique is the post-attack effect. During the animation, Kimberly equips her portable tape player, altering the stage’s music and granting her a speed and damage boost until the end of the match.
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Kimberly and can envision myself playing as her upon the game’s release, I have concerns about her short-range normal attacks and somewhat demanding execution. These factors may discourage casual players and potentially position her in the mid-tier range of playable characters.
Conclusion
The Street Fighter 6 Closed Beta provided an exceptionally well-optimized and polished glimpse into a game that is still six months away from its official release. The beta experience not only met but surpassed my expectations in terms of its design, combat mechanics, graphics, and game engine. What truly stood out were the re-imagined designs of the classic characters and the unique move sets of the new fighters. These aspects have intensified my anticipation for the game and solidified it as a must-have on its release day, likely appealing to a wide range of Street Fighter enthusiasts. I eagerly look forward to future trailers that unveil more of the roster leading up to the game’s official launch.