Excited at the fact that Namco and Capcom are apparently putting aside their differences, born out of the traditional rivalry between the Street Fighter and Tekken series, to collaborate on two crossover projects? Don’t be. As Namco says, the two games aren’t supposed to be collaborations, they’re competition, providing the two with yet another chance to engage in one upmanship.
Like Capcom exec Ono said in an interview with Famitsu: “We’d like to challenge one-another in all areas, including sales, and get fans of both series excited…
This is history we’re making. Two fighting games that have rivalled each other are finally standing on the same stage. This isn’t just a showdown between Tekken and Street Fighter, but a decisive battle for Capcom and Namco Bandai Games Inc., so I’m going to give it my all.”
Tekken creator Katsuhiro Harada echoes the very same sentiments.
“The Street Fighter and TEKKEN development teams have a great relationship. However, I see this new project not as a collaboration, but as the competition of the century between two legendary fighting game franchises,” he said.
“The ultimate dream match-up is about to be realized. With this astonishing collaboration, a new chapter in fighting game history begins.”
Well, at least the two agree on something.
The astonishing crossover was announced at the San Diego Comic Con this year. There are going to be two versions of the game: Street Fighter X Tekken, which is being developed by Capcom, will be based on the Street Fighter IV engine, and in the Street Fighter universe. On the other hand, Namco is developing a Tekken X Street Fighter, which will be developed using the Tekken 6 engine, and which will be set in the Tekken world.
The former is set for release in 2012. No word on when the latter releases, though we do know that it will release well after Street Fighter X Tekken hits the stores. Both games are due on the Xbox 360 and PS3.