Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Street Fighter 4

Last updated on Nov. 14, 2008

Q: When will Street Fighter 4 be released?

A: Here are the current release dates for the various releases of Street Fighter 4.

Japanese Arcades: July 18, 2008.
American Arcades (Japanese machines shipped to North America): August 2008.
America: PlayStation 3, XBox 360: February 17, 2009.
Europe: PlayStation 3, XBox 360: February 20, 2009.
PC: Several months after the console release.

Q: What kind of PC will I need to run Street Fighter 4?

A: Street Fighter 4 runs on the Taito Type X2 arcade system board, so the assumption is you'll need a PC that's similar to those specifications. Here's what powers the Taito Type X2.

Taito Type X2

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Embedded SP2
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (Capcom confirmed it's a dual core processor in their arcade units)
Chipset: Intel Q965 + ICH8
Monitor: 720p/1080p/1440p HD LCD Monitor
RAM: DDR2 667/800MHz (512MB/1GB, up to 4GB)
GPU: Capcom stated their SF4 arcade units use a Geforce 7900 GS card.
Sound: Onboard Realtek HD 7.1 channel Sound (supports add-in sound cards)
LAN: 10/100/1000 BASE-T
I/O ports: 1x JVS, 4x USB 2.0 (up to 8), 1x serial (max 2), 1x parallel port, 2x PS/2, 2x SATA
Audio inputs: AKG C535EB Stage Microphone, line-in (Surround 7.1)
Audio outputs: 7.1, SPDI/FX
Expansion Slots: 1x PCI Express x16 (used by video card), 1x PCI Express x4, 2x PCI
Storage: 2x 80 GB 10k RPM SATA Hard Drives
Media: 80 GB 10000 rpm Hard Drive

Capcom also mentioned that they use specialized drivers to get extra performance out of this configuration.

Q: When does Street Fighter 4 take place in the time line?

A: Between Street Fighter 2 and Street Fighter 3. The official time line from Capcom is as follows.

Street Fighter - 1987
Street Fighter Alpha 2 - 1988
Street Fighter Alpha 3 - 1990
Street Fighter 2 - 1993
Street Fighter 4 - 1994/1995
Street Fighter 3: Second Impact - 1998
Street Fighter 3: Third Strike - 1999

You can see there are some obvious games missing. Street Fighter Alpha 1 and SF3: A New Generation were essentially unfinished games as the second versions that came along (SFA2 and SF3:SI) were kind of like remakes, i.e. what Capcom wanted to put out to begin with so SFA2 replaces SFA1, and SF3:SI replaces SF3: A New Generation.

With SF2 the most current version of the game is what the canon currently follows, with the exception of Hyper SF2, so technically the most current version of the SF2 storyline is in SF2 Revival (GameBoy Advance) though that all may change when SSF2T HD Remix is released.

SF4 would have to take place in 1994/1995 since Ken's SF4 bio states that Eliza is pregnant (with Mel) during SF4, and in SF3: Second Impact Mel is 3 years old.

Clear as mud? Yep, it's confusing.

Q: Who is developing the game?

A: While Capcom USA currently owns the rights to Street Fighter, SF4 is being developed by Capcom Japan.

Q: How long has SF4 been in production?

A: Keiji Inafune gave the project the greenlight in 2005, though it's unknown as to what aspects of the game's development started back in 2005, or if the game was given the green light to start production at a later point and time (2006-2007).

Q: What does the game play like?

A: The game would best be described as a cross between Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo and Street Fighter 3 Third Strike, with a bit of its own stuff thrown in. It's a 2D fighter with a 3D camera, with the classic 6 button layout.

Q: What happened to M. Bison (Dictator) in the timeline? How come he's not in Street Fighter 3?

A: M. Bison was killed by Akuma at the end of SF2. Akuma performed the Shun Goku Satsu (Instant Hell Murder) on Bison which sent his soul to hell where it is constantly attacked by demons.

Some of this information was taken from the Street Fighter 4 FAQ on Capcom-Unity.

Posted by yflow on September 23, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. #1

M. Bison (Dictator) was killed at the end of SF2, but he makes an appearance in SF4, which takes place after SF2.

...What?

Posted by chun li's husband on September 26, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. #2

M. Bison is going to die in between street fighter 4 and street fighter 3 second Impact. Since street fighter 4 is the time line between 2 and 3 also when street fighter 3 second Impact and Third Strike comes out he is not in the game. This is his last appearance.

Posted by Chun Li's Husband on September 26, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. #3

Trust me I saw it happen hahaha Chun Li and I were happy we got revenge on her dad.

Posted by ArtSasil on September 27, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. #4

HAHA, that's funny though. cause for Bison's ending. he got like mass army of Seth.....so...yeah....

Posted by Chun Li Husbands on October 2, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. #5

After we were happy, We asked her if We can give her our New Vibrating Bird Kick Ultra Combo?, and She was SHO RYU And Ken and We DID All NIGHT LONG HAHA :~P J.S.A.

Posted by Dio Brando on October 21, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. #6

Huh? American release date of August 2008?

...So it's out in English?
Why are there no English gameplay videos?

Posted by Catalyst on October 22, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. #7

Although SF4 wasn't officially released in America, arcades started getting it around then. I guess I should clarify that though.

Thanks for the comment.