Capcom recently faced criticism from fighting game fans after announcing that viewers would have to pay to watch the official Street Fighter 6 finals. However, recent comments from Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada might explain the reason behind this decision.
While it might seem like pro tournaments are profitable, Harada explained in an interview with The Game Business that they actually don’t generate revenue for the fighting game communities they support.
He explains that major companies are investing heavily in advertising for these events, and many online personalities are earning significant income from broadcasting them.
“But the revenue for our games doesn’t reflect any of this stuff.”
Why do fighting game companies participate in these events if they aren’t profitable? Historically, it’s been a way to promote their games.
When a fighting game gains attention at tournaments, it’s like free publicity, potentially boosting sales. Similarly, a strong community built around a game is valuable – positive reviews and competitive play are key to a fighting game’s lasting popularity.
Harada points out that a game’s popularity, even at major events like Evo, doesn’t necessarily translate to higher earnings.
He finds it fascinating to watch how things might evolve, particularly regarding Capcom’s new approach. They’re starting to experiment with paid events, like pay-per-view options, and he’s very curious to see how this impacts the financial side of things.
Tekken fans are likely to be skeptical of what Harada said, but we need to see if Capcom’s paid viewing plans are successful before making any judgments.
This is a fascinating subject, particularly because fighting games have become much more popular in the last ten years. While esports generally offers big financial opportunities, it’s still unclear if fighting games can achieve the same level of success.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think fighting game companies should be charging players to participate in or watch tournaments and events? Share your opinion, and let us know if you’d buy a season pass for these events in the comments!
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2025-11-25 23:07