Daigo Umehara questions future with Akuma ahead of Street Fighter 6 C. Viper update

Japanese fighting game legend Daigo Umehara has expressed doubts about continuing to main Akuma in Street Fighter 6, following a series of character balance changes that he believes have weakened the iconic fighter.

During a recent livestream, Daigo reflected on how his relationship with Akuma has evolved since the character’s release.

Daigo explained that when Akuma first launched, the character’s offensive potential made him feel exceptionally strong — a fighter worthy of his famously low 9,000 health pool. However, repeated balance adjustments over the course of several patches have, in his view, eroded that strength.

The FGC icon mentioned that core elements of his Akuma playstyle have been altered or removed, leading to growing frustration. While he acknowledged that some of the changes were justified for the sake of balance, he described Akuma’s current iteration as significantly more challenging to use effectively than before.

Having recently achieved a strong result at the Capcom Pro Tour (CPT) 2025 World Warrior: Japan #2, Daigo stated that he now feels comfortable stepping back from Akuma if the upcoming patch does not revitalise the character. He noted that he tends to stick with a fighter until he achieves a meaningful result, but after several nerfs, he may finally have reason to move on.

The FGC has heard Daigo claim he was switching fighters for years now, but will this finally be the time? He has been telling fans he’s considering a switch to Ryu for years, but he’s never made the jump. Maybe C. Viper will be the reason he finally switches it up.

If the next balance update does not restore Akuma’s effectiveness, Daigo is considering experimenting with other characters, including Ryu and the soon-to-be-released C. Viper. He plans to continue using Akuma in the short term but implied that a long-term switch could become necessary if his performance stagnates.

He also commented on the broader Street Fighter 6 balance landscape, suggesting that Ken — once one of the strongest characters in the game — has become notably weaker in recent patches. His views mirror a wider conversation among players about the shifting state of the metagame ahead of the next major update.

Over the past few months, even at the age of 44, Daigo has maintained an active tournament schedule across both domestic and international events. His results include a second-place finish at CPT Japan #2 earlier this month, along with appearances at EVO France 2025, CEO 2025, and Ultimate Fighting Arena 2025. Despite several early eliminations, he continues to compete at a high level, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most enduring figures in esports.

Known globally as one of the most successful and influential Street Fighter players in history, Daigo’s decisions often help shape the competitive community’s perception of a game’s balance and strategy. His potential switch away from Akuma may signal broader shifts in the meta as the Street Fighter 6 roster expands and evolves.