Capcom's announcement of Street Fighter 6's fourth season roster sparked significant backlash from the fighting game community, which expressed disappointment over the inclusion of three original characters and Final Fantasy 7's Tifa instead of returning legacy fighters. The reaction reflects broader frustration that the current game releases fewer fighters annually than its predecessor while an extensive roster of unused characters remains unavailable to players.

In an interview, series director Takayuki Nakayama revealed the decision prioritizes attracting new players and expanding into underrepresented markets, particularly targeting the 70% of SF6's player base aged 15–25. The studio developed new characters with specific regional appeal—Yasmine from the Philippines and Arjun from India—through cultural consultation to ensure authentic representation. Once Yasmine's gameplay footage was released, showing detailed cultural elements like hairstyles inspired by indigenous symbols and locally-rooted martial arts, fan sentiment shifted notably more positive, suggesting that thoughtful character design can reconcile competitive concerns with strategic audience expansion.