Virtua Fighter Crossroads is Sega’s attempt to modernise the long-running fighting series while preserving its reputation as the first major 3D fighter. Set a decade after previous games, it will combine traditional combat with a more substantial, choice-driven story mode, aiming to welcome newcomers and broaden the series beyond competitive play.

The game takes place in Vilasapara, a fictional Southeast Asian-inspired city where organised crime is prominent and firearms are illegal. Sega says the story draws some inspiration from Like a Dragon while pursuing a grounded martial-arts-film tone, using Western writers and citing Watchmen as a reference for believable character drama; new character Cielo, an immigrant linked to the Chinese mafia, is one example. Veterans such as Pai are also expected to return, while the developers describe the project as a turning point for a franchise whose core game, Virtua Fighter 5, is 20 years old.