Capcom on pay-per-view

Drama

27 October 2025 12:40

Capcom is facing intense criticism from players and fans after announcing that its flagship Street Fighter 6 esports events will move to a pay-per-view format.

The company revealed in late September that Capcom Cup 12 and the Street Fighter League: World Championship 2025 will no longer be freely available to watch online. Instead, both tournaments will sit behind a digital paywall, a major departure from the free live streams that have long been a staple of the fighting game community.

In a public statement, Capcom explained that the decision was made to strengthen the long-term sustainability of its competitive gaming efforts. The company said the pay-per-view approach would help transform its tournaments into “internationally competitive events” while supporting teams, partners, and other parts of its esports business.

Capcom stated, “The decision to introduce Pay-Per-View live streaming for Capcom Cup 12 and Street Fighter League: World Championship 2025 stems from our commitment to promoting our esports business in a sustainable manner over the medium to long term.”

The publisher also promised to provide “clearer updates” about its esports activities through its social media channels, official website, and PR representatives to improve transparency going forward.

The community response, however, has been overwhelmingly negative. Many players and fans argue that locking key events behind a paywall undermines visibility for competitors and discourages casual viewers from engaging with the scene.

European professional player Nathan “Mister Crimson” Massol criticized the move, saying, “Most of our business model teams are based on visibility. By locking the finals behind a pay-per-view stream, you’re actually going against your players, the same players who invest thousands of hours making Street Fighter more popular.”

Originally, Capcom planned to reveal pricing details for the pay-per-view streams in late October, but this announcement has been postponed “until preparations are complete.” Ticket sales for the Street Fighter League: Pro Japan Playoffs and Grand Finals will open on November 12, 2025.

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