Virtua Fighter's upcoming project has fans eagerly anticipating its release, but there's a twist: some beloved characters might not make the cut. The game's roster is a mystery, but we know three key fighters are in, with two returning favorites. The first glimpse was of Akira Yuki, the series protagonist, and his rival, Wolf Hawkfield, was unveiled at Combo Breaker in May. A new, mysterious blonde-haired female fighter named Stella completes the confirmed trio. But what about the others? Virtua Fighter 5's additional versions brought back every returning character, adding new ones, and the latest revision, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage, even made long-time boss Dural playable. The roster stands at 20 characters, not huge compared to other fighters. Street Fighter 6 launched with 18 characters, expanding to 30, while Tekken 8, Virtua Fighter's main competitor, started with 32 and now has 40 after two years of DLC. Size-wise, the new Virtua Fighter game might bring back the entire cast, but there's a catch. Time has passed in the Virtua Fighter world, and Akira and Wolf look older, suggesting a 20-30-year gap. Most fighters are young, but two characters are in real trouble: Lau Chan and Shun Di. Lau Chan, Pai Chan's father and Lei-Fei's enemy, has battled illness since Virtua Fighter 4, and his daughter can't help him. Story-wise, his death is likely, leaving fans prepared for the worst. Shun Di, an old character, is also unlikely to return. These two are the main roster concerns, but others are in danger too. Stella's resemblance to Sarah Bryant raises questions. Online theories suggest Stella is Sarah's daughter, a common roster replacement strategy, especially for female characters. Tekken's examples include Michelle Chang and Marshall Law's children, Julia and Forest, and Kunimitsu's daughter. If Stella is Sarah's child, Sarah might be gone or deceased, and other characters could face similar fates. Lau Chan and Shun Di are the least likely to return, while Jacky Byant and Aoi Umenokoji are more probable. Virtua Fighter Producer Riichiro Yamada's cryptic statement hints at ongoing development, leaving fans hopeful for new footage soon.
