Street Fighter V Release Date, Update, Spoilers, Leak, 2016 Launch Date Targets a ‘Younger Audience’

Nov 18, 2015 01:42 PM EST

IGN reports that Street Fighter fighting franchise is releasing its fifth game very soon - on February 16, 2016, to be exact.  And it's being targeted for a "newer and younger" audience.

The game is accessible to teens and up, and has been tweaked by publisher/developer Capcom to be appreciated by both beginners to the game and old fans. Street Fighter V will be available for PlayStation 4 and PC users, with some cross-platform play available, though Xbox One users will have to pass this one up.

Game Spot also reveals that Capcom has released the new Street Fighter V video. The tutorial gives players a hint on Ryu and Ken's backstory. The Japanese version of this was released a week earlier.

Capcom's EMEA Brand Manager Brian Ayers was quoted in an interview as saying, "We really hope that Street Fighter V can bring in a newer, younger audience," thus giving credence to the rumors that the developers are trying to widen the scope of their audience.

Stunning visuals depict the next generation of World Warriors in unprecedented detail while exciting and accessible battle mechanics deliver endless fighting fun that both beginners and veterans can enjoy.

The issue sounds pretty business-savvy, but the move has in fact influenced certain aspects of the game. Veteran players who have been toying with Street Fighter for some time have voiced their opinion, and it's one of strong dissent. Most users have said that they don't want to play with a "censored game."

Tech Times reveals that the new direction has led to the toning down of oversexualized components in the game.

To illustrate, Capcom has removed Rainbow Mika's butt slap in Street Fighter V's beta. Some other adjustments have likewise been made on this character, such as the tweaking of camera angles of the character's cut scenes. The final downward slam has also been toned down. Cammy has likewise been amended, with the character's crotch area kept off-screen.

Only the finishing moves and the camera angles have been changed, however. Both characters still strut in the same revealing costumes they have had since their first appearance in Street Fighter.

This has led some disgruntled fans to sign a petition calling for non-censorship in the game. The petition "Do not censor Street Fighter V," has already been signed by 3,955 supporters.

"We do not want to accept any censorship of this kind, and we do not wish to purchase censored games," the petition declared.