Capcom Pro Tour Bans Controller, Leaving Street Fighter Pros in Dilemma

The upcoming 2023 season of the Capcom Pro Tour will soon be underway, with players gearing up to compete in Street Fighter V, as they eagerly await the release of Street Fighter 6 in June. However, high-tier players will now have to make some adjustments, following the announcement of a new ban on a specific type of controller for this season.

New policy

Capcom has banned one of the functionalities that make leverless controllers so efficient at SFV’s high level. These controllers allow players to hit combos easier by using buttons instead of the traditional joystick. Moreover, using directional buttons to block faster will no longer be allowed either, as it is done by pressing up and down simultaneously and then releasing the “up” button.

Enforcement concerns

The decision has reignited an old controversy in the SFV community, with some pros arguing that the ruling doesn’t go far enough, while others believe it will be counterproductive and advantage leverless controller users even more. Additionally, many high-tier players are concerned about how this rule could be enforced in online tournaments, as there is currently no way to check whether players deactivate the input.

Increasing popularity

Leverless controllers first appeared over a decade ago, and their popularity has continued to increase, with more and more Japanese pro players switching to them each year, such as veteran Daigo. Many consider them the best controller to perform better in SFV, as walk block and leverless defense are broken, according to Japanese player Mago in a recent live stream.

Manufacturer’s Response

The manufacturer of Hit Box, a popular leverless controller, said it would comply with Capcom’s new rule but added it was “a still-developing situation” and doubled down on the standard it established. “We still stand firmly by and believe in this standard: Up + down = Up,” referring to the input banned by Capcom.

Street Fighter 6 release and EVO Japan

Street Fighter 6 is set to release on June 2 on PlayStation 4 and 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Meanwhile, SFV will be showcased in the upcoming EVO Japan, which will begin on March 31. It remains to be seen whether any further adjustments will be made to the new rule before the circuit kicks off.

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