Update: Here's a welcome update to this story: Street Fighter 6 will have cross-play functionality as well as rollback netcode (as per Maximillian Dood on Twitter).
While the extent of cross-play hasn't been confirmed yet, it's still great to hear. Cross-play means that you'll be able to play against people on other platforms. We assume that PlayStation users will at least be able to match up with those on PC — but Xbox could also be included. Hopefully we get some full confirmation soon.
Cross-play is a big deal for fighting games, because it keeps the online community together regardless of platform. In turn, this makes it easier to maintain a healthy playerbase.
Original Story: Quite possibly the news that fighting game fans wanted to hear: Street Fighter 6 will use rollback netcode. The news comes via GameSpot editor Tamoor Hussain, direct from the Summer Game Fest in-person event that's currently ongoing.
Hussain writes on Twitter: "Street Fighter 6 uses rollback net code. Lots of people are asking." Good to know!
If you're sitting there wondering what rollback netcode even means, we'll try to explain without going into the technical details. Rollback is essentially the best type of netcode that competitive-leaning games can have; it generally means that online matches tend to run much more smoothly. Even if you're playing against someone on the other side of the planet, rollback should help to some degree.
(If you do want an in-depth explanation of why netcode is so important to fighting games, we would recommend this article from Ars Technia.)
But Street Fighter 6 having rollback is just the first step — it also needs to have good rollback, and that comes down to how well implemented Capcom's netcode actually is. In our humble opinion, 2021's Guilty Gear Strive is the current king of fighting game netcode, so Street Fighter 6 is probably going to be measured against that when it releases next year.
Still, this is positive news. At this point there's no real excuse for fighting game developers to skimp on good netcode — not when online play has become such a core part of the experience (especially with factors like the pandemic putting an end to in-person tournaments for so long).
Here's hoping that Capcom delivers!
[source twitter.com]
Comments 21
Technically SF5 also used rollback, just a famously bad implementation - but I have full faith in SF6, as both Capcom and other developers released multiple games with great netcode since. This shouldn't be a problem.
Whether or not it's as good as the new ArcSys games (Strive and DNF Duel, judging by the betas) - that remains to be seen.
You missed the part where you explain what rollback is without going into technical details. From what I looked up before, I think it's the game will guess what your next inputs are and if it's wrong it'll literally rewind the game and continue on with the actual inputs.
@Voltan Yeah, like the article alludes, rollback doesn't equal good netcode — although that's how it might seem to people on a surface level. But it should be the basis of good netcode when used right.
I don't think Capcom will screw this up. It feels like it's pouring everything into SF6.
Fantastic news. Now the dream is to have crossplay with everyone. Failing that, I'd settle for great netcode.
Also confirmed to have cross play!
Does anyone play fighting games just for the story or that's just me?
Capcom had good rollback in MVC infinite, so I am confident that this one will also be very good.
@Lup
Your not the only one. However folks like that generally don't seem to gravitate towards Street Fighter as there generally haven't been too many story related modes in previous entries. It does seem like SF6 is looking to change that though.
As for the netcode, that sounds great! I honestly never really had any issue with SFV's netcode myself aside from the occasional laggy match and I've had some laggy matches here and there when I played Strive at launch as well. I don't know maybe I was just unlucky but I've yet to play a fighting game, rollback or not, that doesn't have the occasional bad match.
@Lup just you . some people play multiplayer games for the multiplayer .
Street Fighter 5 is definitely toast with all this good news about 6 . can’t wait til V is completely eradicated
That's good news. On not really into Internet fighting games, I want a good AI solo play and otherwise local play. But I might end up giving it a try.
It really looks like 6 might be the series best since Super II
Capcom is really going all out here. I hear cross play is added too.
Correct decision Capcom.
Read the Ars Techinca article about rollback recode and have to say my brain hurts. Might have to recline and play video games for the rest of the day
The general positivity around the game is refreshing and feels old school street fighter
@Korgon The reason people still have laggy matches even with good rollback, is because your opponent is playing on wifi, instead of a wired connection.
@rachetmarvel
Yeah that would probably be the case for most of my matches I imagine. But if that's the case is rollback really the answer then? I mean I use a wired connection when I play but there is no way every single person in the world is going to play that way so is it really that great of a solution?
Granted I'm no networking engineer so I might just be talking out of my *** here. Rollback sounds like it might be the best we got so fighting games might as well use it if they can. If the general majority feels it's the best solution then it's got my support.
@Korgon The thing is that no netcode will he able to make the wifi experience close to that of the wired,because of the packet loss.
Having said that, rollback is a far superior netcode for fighting games compared to delay based netcode.
It makes playing against opponents who are far away, feel smooth. Although as you said, there is still lags against the wifi warriors( that's what we call them in the fgc), it's still more bearable than delay based netcode, which makes your character feel like they are playing underwater.
So the best solution is for the fighting game to have a wifi indicator that tell you if your opponent is on wifi or not, which will help you filter them out.
Street Fighter 6 looked very Splatoonish with colorful splats effect for dramatic attacks.
Btw, just my curiosity.
Why don't Capcom made cartoonish Boxing / Kickboxing game with gameplay similar as K-1 and Street Fighter (life bar, guard meter, Super meter)?
Would like to see a return of cartoonish boxing / kickboxing game by Japanese developer on modern consoles.
@Lup: Its not just you.
I don't play FGs just for the story but if there is a campaign in there that is well handled or atleast a decent timekiller I will try it out.
@Milktastrophe ..... Just Logged-in to tell you that, THANK YOU for doing what the whole article claims to do but DISMALLY fails to do, which was to explain what netcode is in layman or simple or basic terms.
PUSH SQUARE should pay you for the job Mr Ramsey failed to do.
@Robert Ramsey, sir you do own mr @Milktastrophe some of your Push Square salary for this week or month, in your article you explain netcode like you are descibing to someone who already knows what it is which is not what you said you were going to do in your article. Kindly own up to that kind sir and updatr the article with a description akin to then description of Mr @Milktastrophe.
Just wanted point that plainly out.
Thanks.
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