Street Fighter community slams Capcom over pay-per-view Capcom Cup 12 finals
Capcom Cup and SFL World Championship streams hit with controversy after unexpected $40 PPV fee.
Capcom is facing a significant backlash from the fighting game community following the announcement that the finals of Capcom Cup 12 and the SFL World Championship will be broadcast via a pay-per-view (PPV) stream. This was unveiled during last week’s Tokyo Game Show, leaving many Street Fighter fans angry and confused, especially as these types of events traditionally serve to unite and grow the community.
The decision requires fans wanting to watch the Capcom Cup 12 Finals on March 14, 2026, and the SFL World Championship on March 15, 2026, to pay ¥4,000 (approximately $27) for each event or purchase a bundled stream for ¥6,000 (roughly $40). This pricing structure immediately drew criticism, with fans calling out the irony of charging to view what is essentially a marketing tool for a major video game franchise.
The countdown begins. Tickets for #CAPCOMCUP12 drop soon on Oct. 10!
— Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) September 28, 2025
Starting this season, CAPCOM CUP 12 Finals (Mar.14) and SFL: World Championship (Mar. 15) will stream live via Pay-per-view. Free replays will drop Mar. 21 (CC12) & Mar. 22 (SFL:WC). *Pay-per-view tickets will… pic.twitter.com/CrPI1EzXSq
Development team ‘shocked’ by the decision
Responding to a fan’s question on X about the disconnect between the esports division and the development teams, Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama has publicly stated that he was completely unaware of the PPV streaming plan. He stated that both he and producer Shuhei Matsumoto were “shocked at the venue” when they learned of the paywall decision. “It may sound strange, but it’s true. Revenue targets and assigned tasks differ fundamentally by department. Even the development team was surprised by this announcement (at least Matsumoto and I were shocked at the venue). That said, since this matter occurred within the same company, we are currently discussing it. We apologize for any concern this may have caused.”
It may sound strange, but it's true. Revenue targets and assigned tasks differ fundamentally by department. Even the development team was surprised by this announcement（At least Matsumoto and I were shocked at the venue）That said, since this matter occurred within the same…
— TAKA-nakayama (@takaNakayama) October 2, 2025
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The core of the community’s frustration centers on the positive impact these high-stakes finals have on the player base. The tournaments, which feature the stories of underdog participants and top professional players, are vital for inspiring competitive growth and attracting new users to Street Fighter 6.
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