SVC Chaos: A Surprise Revival on Modern Consoles

SNK's surprise announcement at EVO 2024 electrified the fighting game community: SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos is back! Now available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4, this classic crossover fighter returns with modern enhancements. Xbox users, unfortunately, are left out of this revival.

Modernized Mayhem

Boasting a roster of 36 iconic characters from both SNK and Capcom franchises, SVC Chaos offers dream matches featuring fan favorites like Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui (Fatal Fury), the Mars People (Metal Slug), Tessa (Red Earth), and Capcom stalwarts Ryu and Ken (Street Fighter).

The Steam page highlights key improvements: rollback netcode for smoother online play, tournament modes (single, double elimination, and round-robin), a hitbox viewer, and a gallery showcasing 89 pieces of artwork.

A Legacy Resurrected

The re-release is monumental, considering the game's original 2003 launch and SNK's subsequent struggles. The company's bankruptcy and acquisition by Aruze, combined with the challenges of transitioning from arcades to home consoles, delayed the game's return for over two decades. Despite this, the dedicated fanbase kept the memory of SVC Chaos's unique gameplay alive, paving the way for this triumphant comeback.

Capcom's Crossover Future

In a recent interview with Dexerto, Street Fighter 6 producer Shuhei Matsumoto hinted at Capcom's ambitions for future crossover fighting games. While a new Marvel vs. Capcom or a new Capcom/SNK collaboration is a possibility, Matsumoto stressed the significant time and effort required for such projects. The immediate focus, he explained, is reintroducing classic titles to a new generation of players on modern platforms.

Matsumoto also discussed the long-awaited re-release of past Marvel titles, emphasizing the years of negotiations with Marvel and the role of community-driven tournaments like EVO in reigniting interest. The success of these re-releases sets a positive precedent for future collaborations and revivals.