Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Characters Return?

Capcom producer Shuhei Matsumoto has hinted at the possible return of beloved original characters from Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Read on for details from his EVO 2024 statements, preceding the release of Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection.

Capcom Producer Hints at the Return of Original Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Characters

A Possibility, But Capcom is Still Exploring Options

According to Capcom producer Shuhei Matsumoto, speaking at EVO 2024, the return of original Marvel vs. Capcom 2 characters in a new game is "always a possibility." This follows the upcoming release of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, a remastered collection of classic games in the series which Matsumoto is producing.

The Marvel vs. Capcom series features characters from both Capcom and Marvel franchises. The June 2024 Nintendo Direct showcased this new collection, including six classic games, notably Marvel vs. Capcom 2. This game introduced three original characters: Amingo, the anthropomorphic cactus; Ruby Heart, a sky pirate protagonist; and SonSon, the monkey girl. These characters have had limited appearances since, such as cameos in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and as cards in Capcom's card fighter games.

At EVO 2024, Matsumoto suggested the collection could reignite interest in these characters. "Yeah, there's always a possibility," he stated, explaining that the collection's release will familiarize a wider audience with these characters. He further hinted at their potential appearance outside the Versus series, stating, "If there's enough interest, maybe they could appear in Street Fighter 6 or another fighting game." He emphasized that this re-release expands Capcom's creative possibilities and content pool.

Future Marvel Crossovers Depend on Fan Interest

Matsumoto revealed that Capcom had planned the Fighting Collection for three to four years, navigating discussions with Marvel to secure its release. He highlighted the team's long-held desire to re-release these classic titles, emphasizing that timing and collaboration were key factors.

He also expressed Capcom's ambition to create a new Versus series title and re-release other legacy fighting games with modern features like rollback netcode. He stressed a phased approach, focusing on re-releasing classic titles to gauge community interest and explore further possibilities.

Matsumoto concluded by emphasizing Capcom's commitment to bringing legacy fighting games to modern platforms, acknowledging the need for collaboration and understanding the time constraints involved. The re-release of these classic titles, he believes, is the best way to energize the community and gauge interest for future projects.