Street Fighter 6 director responds to backlash after character marries second cousin

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Takayuki Nakayama, the director of Street Fighter 6, has apologized after fans reacted negatively to a storyline revealing that the character Alex marries his second cousin and adopted sister, Patricia.

Alex is a hugely popular character in the Street Fighter games. He first appeared in Street Fighter III: New Generation as a professional wrestler known for his distinctive Brooklyn accent—and the fact that he married his second cousin.

Things weren’t always as they are now. Originally, in the Street Fighter III games, Alex’s story showed him being raised by his mother’s cousin, Tom. Tom took Alex in after his parents died and raised him with his own daughter, Patricia.

Previously, Alex and Patricia had a close, sibling-like relationship that felt like they were a family they created themselves. But Alex’s history, as revealed in Street Fighter 6, is now much darker and more complex.

I was really touched by something I saw in Street Fighter 6’s World Tour mode! There’s this sweet illustration of a young Alex holding baby Patricia, and he’s talking about wanting to get strong so he could protect her. Then, right next to it, there’s another drawing of them dancing at their wedding years later. It’s just a really heartwarming little detail that shows their connection.

I quickly realized Patricia was becoming more than just someone I needed to protect. Now, she’s my constant companion, standing with me through everything.

In Street Fighter 6, Patricia is expecting Alex’s child. A touching moment in Alex’s Arcade story shows him gently resting his head on Patricia’s baby bump, and he’s playfully ‘kicked’ by the baby – a clear sign she’s inheriting her father’s fighting spirit!

Street Fighter 6 scenario writers release short story after Alex backlash

Many Western viewers were shocked by this plot point. Tom and Patricia grew up as if they were siblings, and it’s revealed she’s also his second cousin through a family connection to his mother.

While not against the law, marrying a second cousin is widely considered unacceptable in Western cultures. This practice is a strong social taboo, and it caused considerable discomfort among American athletes when it occurred.

Social media users reacted quickly and strongly, prompting the game’s director, Takayuki Nakayama, to release a public statement addressing the issue.

He posted on X, saying they were sorry if recent discussions about Alex’s story had been confusing.

We’re not changing the characters’ histories, but our team realized some of the writing could be unclear, so we’ll be updating those parts soon.

We’re sorry if recent discussions about Alex’s story have been confusing. We haven’t changed the characters’ histories, but after looking into it, our team will soon update some parts of the text to make things clearer.

— TAKA-nakayama (@takaNakayama) March 26, 2026

Nakayama also shared an extra story created by the game’s writers. Called ‘A Toast Between Fathers,’ it shows Tom talking to a bartender right after his children’s wedding, remembering how much Alex has always cared for his new spouse.

Tom says Alex grew apart from his family while in high school, but reconnected with them after saving Patricia from a group of attackers.

Patricia really looked up to Alex, constantly trying to be near him and get his notice. It honestly concerned me, because while I love Alex, he wasn’t the best person to emulate. It seemed to surprise him too. He kept a safe distance, letting Patricia be herself while also making sure she was protected. He was true to his word – dependable, just like his father!

People have had different reactions to Nakayama’s comments. Some fans are happy that Alex and Patricia have found love again later in life, while others strongly disapprove of their relationship.

“Just make him the kid’s uncle, taking care of his sister,” one suggested. “It’s not that hard!”

Someone else commented, saying they were okay with editing the text, but felt the comparison between cradling a baby and inserting one into someone was inappropriate.

Someone expressed their gratitude to the team for listening to user feedback, and hopes they can find a solution that works well for everyone.

Things are still pretty rocky with the community right now, and honestly, a lot of us are going into the reveal of Ingrid, the next DLC character slated for Summer 2026, with a bit of caution. We’re all hoping for the best, but there’s definitely some hesitation after everything that’s happened.

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2026-03-26 21:21