Earlier this month, Capcom released a message to investors from Chairman and CEO, Kenzo Tsujimoto. In the message, Tsujimoto outlined the company’s renewed focus on promoting esports.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Kenzo Tsujimoto:

“…the values we associate with games are beginning to shift drastically.”[/perfectpullquote]

Citing the inclusion of esports at the 2022 Asian Games and the potential for esports at the Paris Olympics in 2024, he stated that “the values we associate with games are beginning to shift drastically.” Tusjimoto went on to discuss the success of Street Fighter as an esports title in the United States and Europe. He explained that Capcom intends to utilize Street Fighter’s success as an esport in those markets as a foundation for a renewed commitment to promoting esports in Japan. “We will move forward to promote esports with the full force of our organization,” he said.

Four days later, the Capcom Pro Tour announced its return for a new season, with the full year’s schedule coming later this month. Notably absent from both the CEO’s message and the Pro Tour announcement was any mention of the company’s other esports title, Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite. The “Marvel Versus” series has been a staple of the fighting game community for the last 20 years. However, for the first time in two decades Marvel vs Capcom will not be featured at the most prestigious fighting game tournament of the year—the Evolution Championship Series.

While Tsujimoto’s message stated that the company intends to make 2018 “Esports Year One,” fighting game fans will have to wait and see if Capcom’s plan is exclusive to Street Fighter, or extends to their other competitive titles.