Summary
Several of the biggest names in fighting games have released new installments recently, butSoulcaliburis still missing. Considering recent events, the genre is seeing a lot of activity at the moment. Even so, with so many iconic names being highly active, it becomes far more noticable which among them has not followed suit. At the moment, there’s no real way to tell from current information what this could mean for the future. The fighting scene is thriving, that much is certain. The question is if anyone else will add to the current momentum.
The competition forBest Fighting Game at The Game Awardswill be fierce, with two major franchises launching their latest games in 2023. In general, several of the biggest fighting franchises have been treated well recently. Notable releases include:
Most of the genre’s heaviest hitters are represented in the newest generation, or will be soon enough. The fact that many of these games will receive further support points towards exciting times ahead for fighting game fans.
Soulcalibur is the Biggest Absence From Recent Fighting Game Releases
At this point, it has beenfive years since the lastSoulcaliburgame, and that’s especially noteworthy with the genre as a whole being so prominent in 2023. The series was in a difficult spot afterSoulcalibur 5failed to impress, largely due to replacing many fan favorites, having a lackluster story, and introducing the reviled Patroklos as a new protagonist.Soulcalibur 6did an admirable job of damage control, rebooting the series' timeline and bringing back many of the beloved characters that got dropped from the fifth game. AfterSoulcalibur 6, the series' future started looking much brighter than it had previously.
A big argument forSoulcaliburto return is that, much likeMortal Kombat 1’s series reboot,Soulcaliburis on a new timeline after the latest installment. Starting once more from the beginning of the hunt for Soul Edge,Soulcalibur 6managed to include a few twists to ensure that the new timeline would differ from the old. Characters like Zasalamel and Tira are present from the start, and the foundation is already being laid down to radically changeSoulcalibur’s future. This new timeline has barely been explored, andSoulcalibur 7can finally show fans what will happen next for the universe.
The events ofSoulcalibur 5were referenced inSoulcalibur 6, with it portrayed as a disastrous future that the new timeline must avoid repeating. However, only Cassandra and Zasalamel are aware of this so far.
Soulcalibur 6was also ahead of the game in one key way. Recent features such asStreet Fighter 6’s World TourandMortal Kombat 1’s Invasions have led to more meaningful single-player content in fighting games. However,Soulcalibur 6included Libra of Souls, which did the same thing years earlier. Libra of Souls featured the player’s created character adventuring through the land, tackling missions and collecting new weapons to fight with on their own search for Soul Edge. It was a fun experience that felt rewarding to play. After Libra of Souls,Soulcalibur 7can certainly offer up another great single-player experience for fans.
Soulcaliburis still a well-known title, and the environment is favorable for it to return.Soulcalibur’s collaboration withKOF: All Starlast year shows that the series hasn’t been forgotten. At this point, if a newSoulcaliburgame gets announced, its only worry will be the stiff competition currently available.Soulcaliburreceived an incredible revival five years ago, and the series still has life in it thanks to its reboot. The fighting scene for the current generation is strong, but it won’t be complete without a new entry from theSoulcaliburfranchise.
