Should gamers buy fighting games at launch? That’s the age-old question many continue to ask themselves, since this genre often gets complete editions a few years after release. It’s easy to see why fans get conflicted about it, especially after they started becoming more like live-service titles.
On one hand, waiting for more complete editions like the upcoming Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition makes sense. They already have plenty of DLC content in them, so fans won’t have to pay extra for additional fighters or costumes.
But avoiding fighting games at launch can mean missing the hottest period of constant online play. The first few months of these games are always the best for getting online opponents, as Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves players are discovering.
It probably depends on the kind of fan you are when it comes to this genre of fancy fists and fireballs. Gamers who prefer to play with friends on the couch and prioritize single-player content would benefit from waiting for a complete edition. Hardcore fans who love facing others in online competition and don’t care for single-player will want to get these games at launch.
Admittedly, fighting games that maintain their popularity after some time would be easy to jump into, regardless of what year they came out in. Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 still feels similar to how it was at launch, just with some new characters added throughout the years. We imagine fans will be playing this one for a long time, so there might not be a rush to pick it up.
For something much sadder, Tekken 8 felt like a completely different game at launch and is now considered a mess by its hardcore fans. It was much better playing this game online when it first came out, which is pretty sad to think about. Bandai Namco will probably fix this and make the game playable again, but now might not be the time to pick this entry up.
click to enlargeRegardless of what fans prioritize in their fighting games, they shouldn’t rush to pick up a new game if there are more important priorities. Hell, new gaming systems aren’t a major priority either if you think about it. These games will always have a place in someone’s collection, no matter when they were bought.
As someone who likes playing Arcade and Survival Mode in their fighting games, waiting for an Ultimate or Champion’s edition is ideal. Having a ton of characters to use also makes the wait more appealing. However, someone who prioritizes competition with players wouldn’t feel the same, and they should probably buy the title they want at launch.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Fighting Games page.