Many familiar fighters - and a few new ones - will be coming to the arena in Street Fighter 6, Capcom’s next installment in the Street Fighter series. The latest edition of the classic fighting game features a bold visual aesthetic, new control options, and three new play modes, all powered by Capcom’s RE Engine. Street Fighter 6 also introduces a few new combatants while welcoming back some of the game's most popular characters.
A total of 18 characters have been officially confirmed as appearing in Street Fighter 6, including three showcased in the State of Play broadcast on February 23, 2023. For players familiar with the series, the return of old favorites, like Chun-Li, Ryu, and classic Street Fighter 6 characters Dhalsim and E. Honda, may be the most exciting aspect of Street Fighter 6. But the introduction of several new characters also brings different, specialized abilities to the table.
Blanka
Blanka looks like a green wildcard, but the fighter is also of the most popular returning champions of Street Fighter 6. Blanka is actually rather placid, fond of children, his friends, and the environment. When angered, however, Blanka attacks like a wild man, unleashing the power of electricity to blast his opponents. Before he became a fighter, Blanka sold “Blanka-chan” dolls in his native Brazil; in Street Fighter 6, he can weaponize one of these dolls as an electrical bomb to lob at opponents.
Chun-Li
One of the most popular characters returning in Street Fighter 6, Chun-Li is a Chinese fighter with a wide array of costumes and hairstyles. An ex-Interpol cop, she remains dedicated to the cause of justice and teaches kung fu in her spare time. With her powerful legs and agile frame, Chun-Li deploys flurries of multiple, rapid kicks in combat, including a move that involves leaping into the air and kicking an opponent in the head.
Dhalsim
Dhalsim is another character returning with Street Fighter 6's roster. A yoga master from India with pupil-less eyes and long, rubbery limbs - presumably owing to his intense yoga practice - Dhalsim is serious, self-disciplined, and altruistic, fighting on behalf of the poor and downtrodden.
A pacifist by nature, Dhalsim uses his abilities to fight evil whenever necessary. In fights, he can employ his long, flexible limbs to launch ranged attacks. He can also teleport and breathe fire, making him a deadly and unpredictable opponent.
E. Honda
A physically massive, highly skilled sumo wrestler, Street Fighter's E. Honda is known to be friendly and honorable. His life goal, it is said, is to become the greatest sumo wrestler of all time and to spread his love of the sport worldwide. He is now confirmed to return for Street Fighter 6, as revealed at TGS 2022.
E. Honda's fighting technique stems from his sumo background, enabling him to use crippling headbutts, hand slaps, and throws to toss his opponents around the ring. As one of the most classic characters reappearing in Street Fighter 6, E. Honda should be a valuable addition to the roster.
Guile
Guile is an all-American hero: a fighter pilot, a patriot, physically and mentally tough, and a loving father and family man. Given his background in the U.S. Air Force, he commands the power of sound - including Sonic Blade and Sonic Boom - to tear up opponents from a distance. In the wake of Top Gun: Maverick's massive box office success, it could be that long-time character Guile emerges as a fan favorite in SF6.
Jamie
One of the new fighters confirmed to make a first appearance in Street Fighter 6, Jamie uses the Chinese drunken fighting technique. These intentionally sloppy movements make him highly unpredictable. He combines this style with breakdancing moves like spin kicks and handstands to defeat his opponents.
Juri
Juri Han and Chun-Li are enemies: While the similarly-aged Street Fighter legend Chun-Li seeks meaning in her battles, Juri fights for the pleasure of it, taking sadistic delight in inflicting pain on her opponents. Her fighting style is based on Taekwondo, the Korean martial art, and includes a variety of jumps and kicks. A character introduced in Street Fighter 4, Juri’s signature moves are the pinwheel kick and a Super Combo that launches fireballs at her opponent.
Ken
Ken Masters first appeared in the original Street Fighter game, and in Street Fighter 6 he remains the egotistical Alpha male he always was. His design has seen some changes, however, with SF6 adding more detail to the series' roster than ever before.
A playboy, a he-man, and a hero, character Ken is a tough, flashy, and honorable fighter - arrogant but good at heart. Ken’s fighting style involves quick, heavy strikes from close range, making him one of the first characters players often master in Street Fighter.
Kimberly
Another new addition to the franchise is Kimberly, an African American ninja-style fighter. She is extraordinarily strong and a fan of ‘80s pop culture, always listening to tunes on her headset. She is also supremely fast and has a very high level of intelligence, which will make her a difficult fighter to anticipate in combat. She can use a surprise attack against opponents by concealing herself in a cloud of smoke. First revealed in a colorful Street Fighter 6 trailer, Kimberly’s association with hip-hop culture may be seen to embody a new direction in Street Fighter’s style and aesthetic.
Luke
Luke Sullivan is a young, cocky specialist in mixed martial arts with a background in the military special forces. He first appeared in Street Fighter 5. Luke has a powerful forward grab and a projectile-like attack called Sand Blaster, in which he traces an arc of orange energy in the air that repels his opponent.
