A Glimmer of Hope: Tekken X Street Fighter Was 30% Done Before Development Was Paused

For a decade and a half, the fighting game community has been tantalized by the unfulfilled promise of a truly epic crossover: Tekken X Street Fighter. Announced alongside Capcom’s Street Fighter X Tekken at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010, the project from Bandai Namco was set to bring the iconic 2D characters of Street Fighter into the 3D, physics-based engine of Tekken. While Capcom’s entry was released in 2012, Bandai Namco’s side of the project was ultimately put on hold in 2016, leaving fans to wonder just how far along the game was. In a new interview with Destructoid, Tekken series producer and director Katsuhiro Harada has finally shed light on the matter, revealing that the game was a full 30% complete before development was paused.

Harada’s comments offer a fascinating, and at times bittersweet, glimpse into the lost project. He expressed a personal desire to one day show the public what his team had created, stating, “I would like to show people what we already have. That would be cool if we could do that. We were 30% into development, so fingers crossed.” This statement, while not a promise of the game’s return, is the most positive update fans have received in years and confirms that the project was more than just a conceptual idea. The revelation highlights the massive amount of work that went into adapting characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim into the Tekken universe, a herculean task given the fundamental differences between the two fighting engines.

The Reasons Behind the Pause: Community and Competition

The decision to halt development on Tekken X Street Fighter was not made lightly and was based on a combination of strategic and logistical factors. As Harada has explained in previous interviews, the primary reason was a concern about fragmenting the fighting game community. The release of Street Fighter V and the monumental success of Tekken 7 created a situation where launching a third major title that blended the two franchises could have cannibalized sales and split the player base, which both companies were keen to avoid.

The success of Tekken 7 as a long-running “service game” with multiple seasons of downloadable content made it increasingly difficult to justify the release of a new, standalone title. The investment in Tekken 7 had paid off handsomely, and the team was hesitant to pull development resources away from it for a new project that was seen as a risk. The lukewarm critical and commercial reception of Capcom’s Street Fighter X Tekken also likely played a role in the decision, as it demonstrated the challenges of creating a crossover that satisfied fans of both franchises.

Despite the pause, the development of the game was not a complete loss. Some of the work done on Tekken X Street Fighter was repurposed. Akuma, the iconic demon from the Street Fighter series, was brought into Tekken 7 as a guest character and played a major role in the game’s story mode. His inclusion provided a tangible example of how a 2D fighter could be translated into a 3D space, and his unique gameplay mechanics, including an EX meter for special moves, offered a glimpse into what the full crossover could have been. Harada has also mentioned that the team was particularly proud of their work on characters like Dhalsim and Chun-Li, whose unique body types and animations presented a significant challenge that the team successfully navigated.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

While Harada’s recent comments have reignited the conversation, it’s important to temper expectations. The project is still officially on hold, and both franchises have moved on to new, successful installments with Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. The sheer amount of work required to complete the remaining 70% of the game, including creating a full roster, a deep story mode, and online infrastructure, would be immense. Any potential revival of the project would likely have to start from scratch on a new engine and with new hardware in mind, making the 30% of work that was completed largely a proof of concept.

However, the emotional appeal of the project remains strong. The idea of seeing a full roster of Street Fighter characters duking it out in a Tekken-style arena is a dream for many fans. The success of Tekken 8, which is currently a massive hit, and the resurgence of the fighting game genre, could create a new and more opportune window for a crossover. If the two franchises ever decide to revisit the project, they now have a wealth of experience and a loyal fan base that is more enthusiastic than ever. For now, we can only hold our breath and hope that one day, Katsuhiro Harada will get the chance to show us what might have been, giving us a peek behind the curtain at the 30% of fighting game history that almost made it to the light.