Street Fighter V DLC can be earned in-game for free

Capcom has adapted a slightly different business model for Street Fighter V, with players able to earn all of its extra content without spending a penny.

The publisher describes it as a service-based approach” and it certainly seems to ape the model seen in hits such as League of Legends and Hearthstone – except of course Street Fighter V won’t be free to download.

Playing the game will earn ‘Fight Money’, a currency that can be used to acquire any of the title’s DLC, including extra characters. Alternatively, users will be free to buy ‘Zenny’, a premium currency that fulfils the same purpose.

‘The initial release is the only disc you will ever need to own,” Capcom community manager Peter Rosas said. All balance and system adjustments will be available for free. All post-launch gameplay related content will be earnable for free by playing the game.

Street Fighter V will be the first iteration in the franchise where it is possible for dedicated players to earn all gameplay related content (such as characters) for free, simply by playing the game. Long gone are the days of forced Super and Ultra upgrades! Enjoy free balance updates as soon as they become available, and find and choose the post-launch characters that you want to get.

Players also have more freedom in their decisions, as they only need to purchase or earn the content that appeals to them. This will also create more long-term engagement, because the more you play the game, the more you are rewarded and can earn new content. The player base is never shrunk by requiring a paid update like in years past. Players can take a break from the game, but then come back at any time and continue to play with the characters they already own, with the newest gameplay balance.”

Capcom will tweak the in-game economy throughout the beta phase until it feels the balance is right.