Street Fighter 6 has been quite the hotspot for crossover events lately, but the latest one takes the cake for being the most unexpected. On April 1st, Capcom revealed a new fighting pass for the game, themed around the beloved yet somewhat obscure Rival Schools franchise. And no, this wasn’t a cheeky April Fool’s prank. Players diving into Street Fighter 6 now have a chance to snag some exclusive goodies echoing Rival Schools. These include mainly cosmetic items like new gear for avatars, fresh tunes, quirky stickers, and some fun player titles thrown in for good measure.
The sudden announcement of this crossover took many by surprise, primarily because Rival Schools hasn’t seen the light of day for quite some time. The series’ last installment, Project Justice, came out on the Sega Dreamcast back in 2000, and since then, fans have heard little more than a whisper. Even though Project Justice is set for a re-release in the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection 2, it’s still a head-scratcher why Capcom chose to dust off such a dormant franchise now. Could this be a hint that they might be reviving Rival Schools with a brand-new outing in the not-too-distant future?
Rival Schools barely rings a bell for mainstream audiences, and there are a few reasons for that. With only three titles in its belt, one of which never left Japan, it hasn’t exactly been a globe-trotter. Each game in the series was confined to Sega or Sony systems, limiting its reach. Set in the same world as Street Fighter, Rival Schools shakes things up by featuring high school kids and teachers as its main fighters. These characters duke it out to unravel the intrigue behind mysterious campus kidnappings and assaults.
Interestingly, there’s an entry in the series that’s exclusive to Japan: Nekketsu Seisyun Nikki 2. This game serves as a sequel to 1997’s Rival Schools: United by Fate, but it’s not regarded as a mainline title.
There’s a glimmer of hope, though. Recently, Capcom’s been shifting its attitude towards old and dormant franchises, making the notion of a Rival Schools comeback less far-fetched than before. Just last year, during a briefing with investors, Capcom announced plans to rejuvenate inactive IPs lacking recent releases. This move is part of their strategy to develop more quality titles efficiently and consistently.
It hasn’t taken long for fans to notice Capcom’s renewed efforts. In the past year or so, they’ve unveiled a new Onimusha game and even announced a follow-up to the cult-favorite Okami. Plus, the Dead Rising and Dragon’s Dogma series have made comebacks with the Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and Dragon’s Dogma 2 rolling out in 2024. Given this trend, a new Rival Schools game might just be on the horizon.
However, there is a potential hurdle to this revival. The mastermind behind the series, Hideaki Itsuno, is no longer with Capcom. During his tenure, Itsuno was passionate about developing Rival Schools 3, calling it one of his personal dreams. With him gone, the likelihood of a sequel dims slightly. But, as the recent crossover has shown, Capcom hasn’t entirely shelved the series. There’s always the possibility that they could usher in a new chapter for Rival Schools, even without Itsuno at the helm.
In the realm of gaming, Capcom’s commitment to breathing life into their dormant IPs is clear. As Street Fighter 6 continues to embrace collaborations, fans will undoubtedly keep their eyes peeled for what Capcom might dig out next from its treasure troves of gaming history.
