After being with Capcom for nearly 30 years, Street Fighter’s leading figure, Yoshinori Ono, is set to depart from the company at the end of April.
Ono, who has been involved with the Street Fighter series since 1998 and is recognized for leading its resurgence with the launch of Street Fighter 4, stated that starting from May 1st, he will leave Capcom to join a studio named Delightworks.
Delightworks is the developer of Fate/Grand Order on mobile and will publish Melty Blood: Type Lumina, the recently-unveiled 2D fighting game set in the world of “Tsukihime”. Ono becomes the new president and COO of Delightworks.
“I’m going to be working at a studio that is somewhat different from the one I’m accustomed to,” Ono tweeted.
“I’m also going to be looking at development from a perspective that is different from the past.”
Dear FGC, World Warriors.
On May 1st, I will be shifting from Capcom to another company.
I’m going to be working at a studio that is somewhat different from the one I’m accustomed to.
I’m also going to be looking at development from a perspective that is different from the past. pic.twitter.com/Hch7kkGZA0— Yoshinori Ono (@Yoshi_OnoChin) April 27, 2021
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It seems that Ono is leaving the fighting game community. In a subsequent tweet, he mentioned:
“There might be some distance between me and everyone in the FGC for a period. I might be away from the FGC for a while, but I’m looking forward to spending time with you again when I get the opportunity.
“I appreciate your continuous support.”
In a statement last year, Ono said that during his time leading Street Fighter, he had experienced “good times, bad times, and even non-existent times”.
In June 2012, Simon Parkin profiled Ono for Eurogamer, uncovering his health issues amid a demanding work schedule.
The launch of Street Fighter 5 in February 2016 was a disaster for Capcom, and it took the company several years to turn the game around. This year will mark the end of season five, and Street Fighter 6 is expected to be in the works.
