When “Street Fighter V” came out, it was obvious the game was not exactly in a perfect condition. It still needed some polish on its balance and general gameplay features, and the fairness of online matches was under question due to the way certain mechanics worked. On the other hand, limiting the game to an online-only experience was a severe blow to its popularity, perhaps more than Capcom had originally anticipated. Recent statements by the studio indicate that they did not really anticipate this level of response, and were hoping that players would be more interested in online play.
But as it turns out, many fans of fighter games still enjoy duking it out with AI opponents, and the lack of single player support in “Street Fighter V” did not work out in the game’s favor. And perhaps it would have been fine if this was the only issue with the game, but players were disappointed by other factors as well.
Things are going to improve in the future, and Capcom are working hard on a campaign that’s scheduled to arrive in a few months. Some players claim that it would have been better if the studio had postponed the initial launch in order to properly implement single player, but not everyone agrees. In the eyes of some, releasing the game in its current state allowed Capcom to fine-tune its balance so they could properly focus on developing new content afterwards.
Whether you agree or not, it should at least be noted that Capcom themselves admitted their mistake and are now working hard to rectify it. It actually looks like they are going to make up for the initial lack of single player too, as they are adding not one but two single player modes. The game is getting a standard campaign storyline accompanied by a survival mode, and Capcom claimed that they would do their best to keep improving the situation and adding on to the content they have available.
Players who’re more interested in the competitive side of the game were happier with the initial launch, as it included pretty much everything they cared about in the first place. The minor balance issues were nothing unexpected for them, as pro gamers have gotten used to the fact that games need some fine-tuning before they are ready for the market, and they were patient enough to let Capcom sort everything out.
But even some of those gamers agree that the studio shouldn’t have prioritized the competitive component of the game if it meant sacrificing the single player experience, and if Capcom have learned their lesson from this situation, they will probably not repeat that mistake again. After all, the importance of “Street Fighter” in their line of IPs is not to be underestimated, and the studio stands to lose a lot if they let that franchise go to waste through improper handling.
As for the multiplayer, the developers are mostly focused on keeping players incentivized to stay in matches when they are getting steamrolled. It’s not rare to see a match in a fighting game play out in a very one-sided way, as some players have a lot more experience than others and know how to properly put it to use as well. But having your opponent disconnect in the middle of the match is always aggravating, and it’s something that fighter fans have had to deal with since online play first arrived to that genre.