Two years in, and Street Fighter 6 is still kicking ass, remaining a top pick for streamers and a staple in the fighting game community. After a long wait for a sequel to Street Fighter V, the game has seen a surge in tournaments, keeping players hooked.
But hold up, fighting game fans! The upcoming "Tokyo e-Sports Festival 2026," set to run from January 9-11, 2026, has dropped a bombshell: female characters' swimsuit outfits are strictly off-limits in the Street Fighter 6 competition. This rule has ignited a fiery debate, with organizers citing the increasingly younger age demographic of participants and the need for "health and appropriateness" in a public setting as the reason for the ban.
It's pretty rare to see a tournament ban specific "official" in-game costumes – we're not talking about player-made mods here! This unusual restriction has definitely raised some eyebrows.
The outfits getting the boot are the Outfit 4 costumes for the following characters:
Chun-Li
Kimberly
Manon
A.K.I.
Cammy
The common thread here is pretty obvious: all these outfits are female characters' swimsuit costumes. Interestingly, male characters' Outfit 4 costumes, which also exist, haven't been hit with the ban hammer.
Many netizens are speculating that the rule stems from the tournament's eligibility requirements. The official rules state that anyone from elementary school age (as of April 2, 2025) and up can participate. With young children and potentially their parents in attendance, the organizers are likely prioritizing "health and appropriateness" for the event.
It's important to note that only the swimsuit (Outfit 4) is banned; the characters themselves are still fair game. So, Chun-Li and Kimberly can still throw down, just make sure they're rocking their regular threads.
In fact, Street Fighter 6 features plenty of other revealing costumes that aren't swimsuits, such as:
costumes reminiscent of Mai Shiranui's classic look
Cammy's Outfit 2
Currently, these outfits haven't been banned. However, the official event guidelines do mention that organizers reserve the right to adjust rules as needed, so whether the ban will expand in the future remains to be seen.
While the reasoning behind the restriction isn't entirely without merit, banning official in-game content from a tournament is certainly uncommon. It's a clear sign that the esports scene is attracting younger audiences, bringing with it a whole new set of considerations for event organizers.
via： 「東京電競節2026」官方網站