Is one of the greatest crossover fighters ever finally going to make a comeback? Hideaki Itsuno, the former Capcom director, is very eager to do Capcom vs SNK 3, likely eliciting a new kind of dream match from fans after more than 20 years of radio silence.
Itsuno’s big wish
In a new interview with VGC, Hideaki Itsuno—best known for Devil May Cry and Capcom vs SNK 2—has stated that Capcom vs SNK 3 is his number one wish list project.
It was during a Q&A (translated by Video Games Chronicle) where Itsuno said, “I would like to make a fighting game like Capcom vs SNK again, but it’s not Capcom vs SNK anymore; now I’m neither Capcom nor SNK,” so you can see where this is going. Return to the beating heart of their fighting gamesียดfor full article with all the news. “So if they say, ‘OK, we’ll license it to you, then I want to make Capcom vs. SNK 3, please. “Fighting game — I love fighting games and it is number 1 on my list of games I want to make.”
While Itsuno left Capcom early in 2024, he still hasn’t lost his love for the fighting genre. Moving to Osaka, where he now heads Tencent’s LightSpeed Japan studio, he is still working on new AAA projects—but he’s not quite done dreaming of Capcom vs SNK 3.
A dormant juggernaut
The Capcom vs SNK series dates back to the turn of the century, pitting Street Fighter fighters against King of Fighters fighters against one another. SNK vs Capcom (1999): The first title released on Neo Geo Pocket Color. Later in 2000 Capcom put Capcom vs SNK in the arcades, which featured 16 fighters from each side.
Itsuno was personally involved in the development of Capcom vs SNK 2 (2001), which grew up the lineup and is regarded as a fan favorite. The last game in the series was SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos in 2003. Capcom vs SNK 3 had been in development but fell through after SNK went bankrupt in 2001. Certain assets were later redeveloped for Capcom Fighting All-Stars, another cancelled game.
Signs of life
The Capcom vs SNK legacy has not been forgotten in the two decades since that series went dormant. Capcom released both mainline entries in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 in 2024, along with other Itsuno-directed entries such as Power Stone and Project Justice.
In recent years, collabs help to maintain the crossover spirit. This year, SNK’s Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui entered the fray as DLC characters in Street Fighter 6, and now, Street Fighter icons Ken Masters and Chun-Li will appear as guest characters in the upcoming Fatal Fury: City of Wolves.
However, integration through crossovers has still been present which implies that Capcom and SNK aren’t entirely closed off from working together in the future—hopefully hinting towards the resurrection of a Capcom vs SNK 3.
What comes next?
And right now, Itsuno is trying to establish LightSpeed Japan as a pillar under Tencent. But his words remind that he still has a general interest in the fighting game community, and his hope of a bringing Capcom vs SNK 3 back into the fold.
With Capcom and SNK ever planning to license the project out to him, perhaps fans may see 1gA: The Return of the most unfair crossover fighter of all time.
FAQ
Development was discontinued when SNK went bankrupt in 2001. Some of those assets were later reused by Capcom for a cancelled title called Capcom Fighting All-Stars.
The series is known for crossing over Street Fighter and King of Fighters rosters, and the participation of Hideaki Itsuno makes that dream sequel all the sweeter.
Yes. Capcom vs SNK and Capcom vs SNK 2 both saw re-released in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 in 2024.
No official plans but, given the existence of other collaborations between Capcom and SNK characters, there’s no denying it can happen.
