When Street Fighter 6 releases in June, pro fighting gamers are getting a shot at $2 million and a change of pace.
Street Fighter 6 developer Capcom has announced that the first major yearly event for the game will feature the
largest prize pool
in the history of fighting game esports. Capcom Cup 2024, which will take place in February of that year, will feature $2 million in prizes, including a $1 million grand prize for the champion. That figure will immediately catapult SF6’s top players as the most winning fighting gamers of all time, and it also serves as a beacon of hope for the often-struggling community.
The enormous prize pool was announced immediately following Capcom Cup IX, which is the last international event for Street Fighter V. Following Saul “MenaRD” Mena II’s grand finals victory over Zhen Kuang, Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimoto revealed plans for the largest prize pool in fighting game history. Capcom Cup X will feature at least $2 million in prizes, with a grand prize of $1 million.
By esports standards, $2 million is a massive prize pool, eclipsing all but the very largest prize pools for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Dota 2. This is especially shocking given the relatively small prize pools that fighting game players are used to. For reference, MenaRD earned $120,000 from winning Capcom Cup IX, SFV’s sendoff tournament. Capcom Cup 2017 was the game’s largest ever prize at $380,000.
Capcom is pouring a ton of resources into
hyping up Street Fighter 6
before launch. This investment shows that the company is considering the competitive scene an important part of the launch. A $2 million prize pool will make Capcom Cup X the most lucrative event in the history of the genre, and winning it could instantly crown a new highest-earning player.
Street Fighter community reacts to $2 million Capcom Cup
Aspiring Street Fighter 6 pros and content creators are reacting very appropriately to the upcoming $2 million prize pool.
With $2 million on the line, it’s very likely that professional fighting gamers from other franchises will attempt to compete in Street Fighter 6. Multiple established names in
Tekken, King of Fighters, and Guilty Gear have expressed interest in competing. The most iconic among them is Dominique “SonicFox” McLean, a multi-game champion who generally doesn’t play Street Fighter.
The FGC response to the announcement has been highly positive. Social media is full of Street Fighter fans rejoicing over the announcement, and the enthusiasm extends to influential figures in the scene. Established content creator Maximilian Dood was nearly moved to tears by the announcement, comparing the prize pool to escaping poverty.
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