Local studio behind Street Fighter V

Full house: The Street Fighter V launch party saw local fans turn up in full force in support of the long running arcade game. - M. Azhar Arif/The Star

Street Fighter V, one of Capcom’s biggest and long-standing titles has just been launched, thanks in part to Malaysian designers who helped make the game world come alive.

The Malaysian office of Netherlands-based developer Streamline Studios worked on creating the world, stages and characters, says Streamline Studios chief product officer Stefan Baier.

It took Streamline more than a year to complete its part of the project, says Baier, who now has more than 100 Malaysian designers under the studio’s roof.

“Malaysia is a great environment for making games as it has a good supply of trained talents and support from the industry body, MDeC (Multimedia Development Corporation),” he says.

“Having a government and community which actually cares is rare. I come from Germany and it doesn’t care while in the Netherlands the funds are being cut, and it’s not going to happen in the United States.”

Baier says Streamline is now working another triple-A title with Capcom. — M. AZHAR ARIF/The Star

Kelly Tan, 25, an artist with Streamlines’ 2D team says she helped with modelling, texturing and colouring the alternate costumes and stages that would become available as DLC (downloadable content). 

“The Street Fighter franchise is culturally significant. It’s very well known and loved even among people who don’t play the game. It was even featured in Disney’s animated movie – Wreck-It Ralph,” says Tan.  

“A lot of us feel honoured to be able to handle this intellectual property.” 

MDeC director of creative multimedia division Hasnul Hadi Samsudin who was at the event says Streamline is just one of the growing number of international studios establishing their campuses in Malaysia for games development.

“Triple-A titles being made in Malaysia is fast becoming the norm and Street Fighter V is an excellent testament to the level of capability and commitment our country has to offer in terms of talent pool,” says Hasnul.

“As we push Malaysia to become a hub for games development in Southeast Asia, we will get even more support from the education sector.”

Street Fighter V will feature fan favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and M. Bison, as well as all-new characters such as Necalli, Rashid and Laura for a total of 16 playable characters at launch.

Six additional characters will be available as DLC along with new story missions and costumes.

Baier says the studio is already working on another triple-A title with Capcom but declined to reveal more.