Double Tap – A Podcast for the Fighting Game Community

Crash and Static Gorilla dive into Evo’s record-breaking Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournament numbers, the evolving Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 landscape, and what players can expect at EWC with big payouts on the line. They also cover Guilty Gear Strive’s Anime Expo panel, the Lucy reveal coming to Evo, and how Cyberpunk’s Edgerunners music will shake up your playlist. Plus, the Street Fighter 6 Costume 4 drops just in time for Evo, bringing new fits (and opinions) to the hype.

Timestamps

02:56 Evo 2025 Game Placements
11:46 EWC Scheduling
16:12 What Game Would You Add to 2026?
23:33 Guilty...

Mr. World Wide (StaticGorilla) talks about his experiences at CEO 2025 and its return back home to Orlando. They discuss the surprise announcement of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls made by Arc System Works, as well as EVO 2025 registration leaderboard. They talk a bit about the importance of supporting your locals, and dig into the outlook for fighting games through 2026.

Timestamps

00:01:35 CEO 2025 Experience
00:26:22 Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Reveal
00:50:42 Evo Registration Leaderboards
01:01:45 Evo Registration Discussion
01:07:32 Fighting Games Through 2026

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Episode URL: mtb...

We discuss the latest Street Fighter 6 updates, including Elena’s debut and our take on how she could shift the meta. We also break down City of the Wolves newest patch means for characters like Hotaru and Hokutomaru. From our personal Combo Breaker experiences to exclusive stories behind-the-scenes, we share what made this year’s event special. Plus, we explore the Nen x Impact demo and how its mechanics stack up against classic versus-style fighters.

Timestamps

00:01:47 Street Fighter 6 Patch
00:15:10 City of the Wolves Patch
00:21:52 Guilty Gear Strive UNIKA
01:00:15 Nen X Impact Demo

Evo Japan brought major news across the FGC, and we’re breaking it all down. From Virtua Fighter's long-awaited return to a surprising Street Fighter x Overwatch crossover, this episode is packed with hype and controversy. We dive deep into the MK1 “Definitive Edition” and whether it signals the end—or just another chapter—for NetherRealm. Plus, we explore Tekken 8’s polarizing DLC direction and what fans are calling the “NRS curse.” All that and the stacked Team Reject roster reveal for Street Fighter League!

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Episode URL: mtb.gg/3o5

In this Bonus Round we break down Evo Japan 2025. We chat about incredible third strike comebacks during the Cooperation Cup, along with the diversity of playstyles in both Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. Along with the highs came some lows, particularly those technical difficulties that interrupted several matches. We also take issue with organizers sticking with PS5 consoles despite their well-documented overheating problems, making the case that competitive fighting game tournaments should really transition to PC setups to ensure fair play across the board.

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Episode URL: [episode_short...

In this Bonus Round we discuss the rich and often overlooked lore of fighting games. Joined by Ambie Award-winner Aaron David Harris, we explore the narrative power behind iconic characters from Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Guilty Gear. From family drama to mysterious origins, discover how story, design, and personal connection shape who we choose on the character select screen. Whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore FGC lore buff, this episode validates the storytelling genius hidden in every fighter.

Timestamps

04:04 Design and Story of Characters
11:08 Narrative Elements in Fighting Game Stories<...

Lots happening in the FGC right now. We have Evo Japan registration numbers rolling in and showing another huge turnout for Street Fighter 6. We discuss why that could be, and also talk registration numbers for other games. We dig into the character showcase for City of the Wolves, and also discuss the current community feelings around the game and its characters. In the last 2 weeks Tekken 8 has been in turmoil. The season 2 patch seems to be killing interested in the game. Finally, we discuss Elena's World Tour trailer.

Timestamps

01:03 Evo Japan Entry Numbers
15:02 Is...

Lots has happened over the last 2 weeks! We talk about the 2xKO Alpha Lab 2 coming over Easter weekend, featuring new characters and mechanics, and debate the pros and cons of launching with just ten characters. We recap our experience with CotW Beta 2, and discuss Ronaldo as a guest characters. We break down the intricacies of Venom in Guilty Gear Strive, discussing his playstyle and viability. We wrap up by recapping Ark World Tour 2024, including the final matches and the controversial decisions that impacted the competition.

Timestamps

00:01:35 2XKO Update
00:17:34 2XKO Alpha Lab 2 and Roster Size<...

In this Bonus Round we welcome back Aaron David Harris to discuss what makes these fighting games we love so much special. We discuss what actually is a fighting game, the music and art of fighting games, and the unique fighting game community.

Timestamps

00:03:47 Defining Fighting Games
00:12:33 Music in Fighting Games
00:18:09 Competitive Spirit in Fighting Games
00:25:52 Unique Community
00:29:33 Challenge and Appeal of Difficulty
00:33:09 Complexity vs Accessibility
00:44:43 Lack of Originality and Diversity
00:57:13 Modern Trends in Fighting Games
01:12:13 Why FIghting Games will Endure

Double Tap Community...

Evo 2025 early registration reveals there might be a shake up in the big 3, with City of the Wolves taking 3rd place behind Street Fighter 6, and Tekken 8. We also talk about the cost of going to Evo 2025 and what would make it worth it. We move into some Guilty Gear Strive updates around Venom, Dual Rulers, and AWT finals. We talk about the T-1000 Kombat Kast and updates coming to other MK1 characters. Finally we get into changes coming to Capcom Cup 12.

Timestamps

01:20 Evo Registration Leaderboards
11:51 Evo 2025 Costs
34:47 T-1000 Kombat Kast
48:04 New Mechanics...

We discuss the highlights and analysis of Capcom Cup 11, celebrating the triumphs and failures of the best Street Fighter 6 has to offer. We cover everything from the Grand Final's intense matchup between Blaz and Kakaru, to the controversial tournament format and the production elements; notably the shift to using PCs. Insights about specific matches, the variety of character picks, and the surprising performances from both seasoned veterans and new challengers like Blaz, a 15-year-old Ryu player. We discuss the tournament's success and its implications for the future of Street Fighter competition.

Timestamps

02:01 Event and Production<...

City of the Wolves beta wrapped up, so we give our thoughts on the good and what needs to be addressed before launch. We discuss what's coming in Tekken 8 season 2 along with Anna Williams. We dig into new info from MK1 for T-1000 and Madam Bo as a kameo. Finally, Capcom Cup XI is this week, so we discuss our final predictions before the event.

Timestamps

01:22 CotW Beta Impressions
20:47 Tekken 8 Season 2
31:07 MK1 T-1000 and Madam Bo
40:48 Capcom Cup XI

Double Tap Community Discord https://doubletap.gg/discord

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Fresh off the EVO Awards, we talk our thoughts on the event. From the category selections and nominations to the most memorable exhibition matches and player performances, while also touching on areas we think could use some improvement next time around. We talk about the show's announcements, including the reveal of new City of the Wolves characters. We also share our hands-on experience with Street Fighter 6's latest addition, Mai, who dropped since our previous episode. We wrap things up by breaking down the Capcom Cup XI group assignments and offer our predictions on which competitors will advance to...

We break down everything from the latest on Mai in Street Fighter 6's to the Multiversus shutdown that nobody saw coming (at least, not this early). We discuss how players banded together to uncover Mortal Kombat's secret fighter Floyd, plus some news about City of the Wolves' beta test around the corner, and talk a little Virtua Fighter.

Timestamps

01:22 Street Fighter 6 Mai Character Guide Impressions
16:45 SF6 Ranked Improvements
22:17 SF6 Replay System
25:16 What Went Wrong with Multiversus
53:03 City of the Wolves Open Beta
56:43 MK1 Pink Floyd

Double Tap...

Looks like taking that week off worked out for us. We talk about the Evo 2025 lineup, even though it was leaked ahead of time. They still managed a few surprises for us, though. We also discuss the Evo Awards categories and nominations. We appreciate the effort, but we feel like there are some missed opportunities there. We then head into discussing the DLC characters incoming soon (or later in the case of Venom for Guilty Gear Strive). We got a much better look at Mai for Street Fighter 6, and finally got a look at Conan gameplay for MK1. To...

In this episode we're celebrating 400 episodes and 10 years of Double Tap! Looking back over the past decade, we discuss some of our takes on fighting games and the FGC, and also, what we would like to see over the next 10 years.

Timestamps

00:02:38 MKX is the Best NRS Game
00:06:44 Mid-game Coaching Has to Go
00:16:37 Guilty Gear Strive Has Aged Poorly
00:20:22 The Live Service Model in Fighting Games
00:29:02 The FGC Contradicts Itself
00:34:34 FGC Gatekeeping and Community Dynamics
00:43:51 Creating a Welcoming Environment in the FGC
00:54:17 Hopes for SF6 to Become a...

In this Bonus Round we sit down with Blackmore, a passionate content creator specializing in the styles and histories of fighting game characters. Blackmore shares his journey into the FGC, starting from his first experience at EVO to creating detailed videos exploring the martial arts inspirations behind characters like Sonya Blade, Zafina, and the even Voldo. We discuss how character designs and fighting styles impact players' choices and their connections to the community. We also cover trends in character designs across various franchises like Tekken and Mortal Kombat, and the exhaustive research that brings these characters to life.

This week we start the show talking about the announcement of a new Virtua Fighter at The Game Awards, move into the addition of Clive Rossfield in Tekken 8, and then the upcoming balance patches for Guilty Gear Strive. We also discuss the importance of quality assurance in tournament setups following some complaints about the inconsistency of PS5 as a competitive console. This is our last new episode for 2025. After our winter break, well be back on January 7th. See you next year!

Timestamps

00:01:04 New Virtua Fighter Announced!
00:09:16 Challenges Facing Virtua Fighter in the Competitive...

This week we started by discussing the reveal of Mai in Street Fighter 6 and the mixed reactions to her design. We then talked about Tekken 8's upcoming winter update and the speculation surrounding its final Season 1 character. We also covered KOF XV's character breakdowns for Mature and Vice. Finally, we looked ahead to 2025, discussing upcoming games like Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, 2XKO, and potential events in the FGC calendar.

Timestamps

01:46 Mai Street Fighter 6 Reveal
14:45 Poll Results: What Should Capcom Focus on for SF6
19:05 Tekken 8 Winter Update and DLC
26:56 Anna Teased for...

Today we are joined by Aaron David Harris, an award-winning filmmaker and creator of the "Tales of Fist and Fireballs" podcast. Aaron talks about how his love of fighting games shaped his journey in becoming an animator and fiction podcast creator. We discussed the challenges of adapting fighting games into other media like movies and TV, focusing on successful examples like Mortal Kombat and potential issues with upcoming adaptations like Guilty Gear. We also explored the importance of simplicity in storytelling and the balance between fan service and accessibility for new audiences.

Aaron David Harris
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We start by talking about the rumored cancellation of MK1 Kombat Pack 3. We discuss why Khaos Reigns may have failed to meet expectations, the economics of game development, and the future of the Mortal Kombat series, including the potential for an Injustice 3. We also covered the latest Street Fighter 6 patch, examining the significant changes made to characters like Ryu, Rashid, Kimberly, and Ed, and how these adjustments might impact upcoming tournaments. We wrap up with a discussion about the patch's impact on competitive players and what we hope to see in future updates.

Timestamps

01:38 MK1...

Virtua Fighter 5 Revo is making waves with its 4K upgrades and rollback netcode. MK1 has everyone talking about Ghostface's gameplay, but unfortunately, his bugs too. We also dove into the patch drama plaguing Guilty Gear Strive, breaking down what's working and what's totally missed the mark. We wrapped things up by talking about the best selling fighting games and responses to our question of the week about what features should be standard in a fighting game.

Timestamps

01:15 Virtua Fighter 5 Revo Announcement
06:19 Challenges and Realism in Virtual Fighter vs. Tekken
10:13 Discussions on Virtua Fighter's...

We discussed the arrival of Ghostface in Mortal Kombat 1 and broke down his unique gameplay mechanics. We also touched on the latest patch updates for Mortal Kombat 1, including Sub-Zero’s changes and the replay takeover feature. We discuss Capcom Cup 11 qualifying players like Idom and Big Bird, and debated the merits of changing the regional point system. We also covered upcoming updates for Guilty Gear Strive and discussed features that should become standard in fighting games.

Timestamps

01:29 MK1 Ghostface Gameplay
12:05 MK1 November Patch
16:47 Capcom Cup XI Qualifying Update
30:41 The Game Awards - Be...

We discuss recent updates to 2XKO, including new character Jinx and gameplay improvements. We shared our impressions of the Guilty Gear Strive 3v3 mode beta test, highlighting both positives and areas for improvement. We covered news about Capcom Cup qualifications and the challenges some players face, as well as new regarding Capcom Cup XII. Finally, we talked about Multiversus' financial struggles and the addition of new characters like Raven.

Timestamps

00:44 2XKO Jinx Character Update
19:53 Guilty Gear 3v3 Beta Update
32:15 Capcom Cup XII Announcement
39:08 Blink Respawn Smash Bros Tournament Controversy
45:50 Raven and...

We react to Guilty Gear Strive Season 4 and its character changes. We discuss our recent experiences with adjusting to the buffs and nerfs in Guilty Gear Strive, and we share our strategies for dealing with various character updates. We also take a look at the gameplay trailer for Ghostface in Mortal Kombat 1 and explore the potential of new indie fighting game, Knock Off. Finally, we debate which fighting game bosses would make it onto our Mount Rushmore of the most challenging and memorable adversaries.

Timestamps

01:13 Guilty Gear Strive Season 4 Impressions
18:36 Ghostface MK1 Gameplay Trailer<...

In this episode, we start off with the recent announcements from Evo France, including the game lineup and the benefits of Evo expanding internationally. We discuss the starter guide for Queen Dizzy in Guilty Gear Strive, analyzing her new mechanics and potential impact on the meta. We get pretty into it about her new ability, Wings of Light. We also covered the Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite & Beyond mod project led by Maximilian, discussing its visual overhaul and potential to revive interest in the game. We also talk about Kim Dong Hwan coming to City of the Wolves, as well...

We discussed Sakurai's final video on creating games, speculating on what his big announcement might entail, and potential Smash Bros announcements. We recapped the Singapore Capcom Pro Tour 2024 event, highlighting impressive performances by players like Nephew and Shudo. We shared our thoughts on the upcoming Dizzy gameplay reveal for Guilty Gear Strive at Paris Games Week, discussing potential movesets and gameplay mechanics. Additionally, we debated the pros and cons of hiding player ranks in fighting games, considering its impact on player motivation and improvement.

Timestamps

00:01:37 Sakurai's Final Video
00:07:52 Super Smash Bros is a Celebration...

In this episode, we discuss East Coast Throwdown 2024, highlighting the impressive performances and upsets in Street Fighter 6. StaticGorilla shared his firsthand experience at the event, and we discuss the debate surrounding first-to-two versus first-to-three formats in tournaments. We also talked about Bandai Namco's response to the recent player disqualification controversy and their efforts to make it right. Finally we have a discussion about whether arena fighters like Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO should be considered fighting games, exploring the nuances of game genres and competitive scenes.

Timestamps

01:20 East Coast Throwdown 2024 Recap
05:41 ECT 2024: Event and Venue...

We discussed the recent collaborations between Capcom and SNK, focusing on Terry's addition to Street Fighter 6 and the announcement of Ken and Chun-Li joining City of the Wolves. We talk Terry's gameplay mechanics and initial impressions, as well as the significance of these crossovers for both companies. We also touched on the newly announced Capcom Fighting Collection 2, featuring classic titles like Capcom vs SNK and Power Stone. Finally, we explored the possibility of a Capcom vs SNK 3 and the challenges of creating such a game in today's gaming landscape.

Timestamps

01:16 SF6 Sells 4 Million Copies
03:46...

We're back after an unexpected hiatus! On this episode we discussed MK1's story expansion "Khaos Reigns," give our impressions on Heihachi's return to Tekken, and talked about the indie fighting game Coreupt. We talk about the recent announcements from Arksys at Tokyo Game Show including Queen Dizzy, new mechanics for Chip, an update on Dual Rulers, and a announcement of the second beta for the team mode. We also explored some issues facing the FGC community, like the lack of a central hub for communities and the challenges of bringing in new players.

Timestamps

00:01:58...

We kick off with the end of the 2XKO Alpha Lab, sharing our final thoughts on the alpha test and some balancing issues like the defense mechanics. Shifting gears, we discuss the new Mortal Kombat 1 trailer featuring Cyrex, discuss her gameplay, speculate on how the character updates might impact the game, and talk new story details. We also talk about Beetlejuice’s fantastic animation in Multiversus, provide details on the Marvel vs. Capcom collection's leaked release date, and delve into Versusia’s gameplay in Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising. Finally, we preview the EWC Tekken 8 event and the highly competitive grou...

We give our thoughts on the 2XKO Alpha lab, discussing various aspects like UI, music, lobby system, and gameplay. Next we talk about the highlights from Esports World Cup Street Fighter 6 tournament. We also talk about the potential impact of Warner Bros. selling their games division on titles like Mortal Kombat and Multiversus. Lastly, we discuss Maximilian's Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite Beyond mod and its potential to revitalize interest in the game.

Timestamps

00:01:01 2XKO Alpha Lab Impressions
00:10:22 2XKO Gameplay and Strategy
00:24:06 Is Damage to High in 2XKO?
00:29:57 Problems with the Fuse System<...

We kicked things off by discussing the upcoming Alpha Lab for 2XKO, detailing what to expect and how excited we are to see the game in the hands of the FGC. We talked about the production mishaps at the Esports World Cup Last Chance Qualifier for Street Fighter 6, shared our thoughts on the groups for the upcoming stages, and discussed the recent leak of Kitana in the Mortal Kombat 2 movie by none other than Ed Boon. We then shared insights on strategies and tips for Tag Fighters, like character archetypes, choosing your team, neutral in Tag Fighters, and more.<...

This week we start off by talking about MK1 news coming out of San Diego Comic-Con. We discuss Mortal Kombat 1's new characters and storylines coming in the Khaos Reigns DLC. Cyrax and Sektor return, as well as Ghostface, T-1000, and Conan showing up as guest characters. We also touch on Fatal Fury's Billy Kane's return, and our hands-on impressions of Guilty Gear Strive's new 3v3 mode, which was more chaotic than anticipated. Lastly, we highlighted some fantastic mods in Mortal Kombat 1 and Street Fighter 6.

Timestamps

00:02:05 Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
00:07:06 Cyrax and Sektor Gameplay...

In this episode we talk the announcements and reveals from Evo 2024. We got a look at Terry in Street Fighter 6, while Arcsys laid out the details of Guilty Gear Strive Season 4. Finally getting that 3v3! Oh yeah, Heihachi's back for Tekken 8. We also touch on the new developments for Granblue Fantasy and Hunter x Hunter, the introduction of Evo Europe, and the upcoming Evo awards.

Timestamps

00:02:00 Vice and Mature Announced for KoF 15
00:04:00 Kevin Rian Announced for City of the Wolves
00:14:09 Multiversus Season 2: Samurai Jack and Beetlejuice
00:23:49 Unist Announces Uzuki Release Date
00:26:05...

Full house this week as we dig into Evo 2024! This was Mikey's first Evo, while Static was clocking in his ninth time at the event. We talked about everything from the new venue and accessibility to the highs and lows of the tournament matches. We also talk about Mikey's surprisingly good performance in Tekken using Panda, the impact of dealing with competitive anxiety in Street Fighter, and Static has a story about getting DQ'd. We discuss our favorite competitive moments in pools, and breakdown our thoughts on top 6 for the various games.

Timestamps

00:02:33 New Venue<...

This week we discuss new characters, including Braum for 2XKO, Lydia for Tekken 8, and Takeda's return for MK1. We chat about Evo 2024, touching on its record-breaking attendance, anticipated game reveals, and the overall hype surrounding the event. We also discuss a surprise fighting game mode found within DotA, and the potential broader implications.

Timestamps

01:09 Braum in 2XKO
14:05 Is Bison a Top Tier Character?
15:32 Lidia Tekken 8 Starter Guide
23:42 Takeda MK1 Trailer
37:52 DotA Fighting Game
46:16 Quick Tekken World Tour Update
49:14 Are you excited for Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact?
53:06 Road...

We kick off with an in-depth discussion about M. Bison's performance in Street Fighter 6, touching on his strengths and potential weaknesses. We then shift gears to talk about the new Guilty Gear Strive Dual Rulers teaser trailer revealed at Anime Expo, discussing potential new characters and story directions. We also cover Agent Smith being added to Multiversus and discuss the Hunter x Hunter Nan Impact character trailers. Finally, we touch upon the Esports World Cup and the challenges faced by players, especially concerning travel and safety issues.

Timestamps

01:18 M. Bison Impressions
17:09 Guilty Gear Strive...

We kick off this episode with an overview of the upcoming 2XKO Alpha Lab. We discuss the introduction of new features like the 'Pulse' variation, which includes auto combos for beginner players. We dissect the recent EVO 2024 registration numbers, highlighting the significant participation and the games making waves. Furthermore, CEO 2024 gets recapped with a focus on key matches, exciting announcements, and some unexpected moments. We also discuss the latest developer backyard for Guilty Gear Strive.

Timestamps

01:04 2XKO Alpha Lab
15:58 Record Breaking Evo
32:44 Are You Buying Physical Versions of Capcom Collections?
33:38 Is CvS3...

We dive deep into the exciting announcement of Marvel vs. Capcom 2's return and discuss the major features of the upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom fighting collection. We also explore the newest addition to Street Fighter 6, M. Bison, highlighting his gameplay mechanics and the character breakdown shared by the developers. Alongside this, we shine a spotlight on various community projects and events, including preserving classic tournament footage and supporting indie fighting game developers. We wrap up with introducing Communtiy Episodes and discussing GranBlue Fantasy Versus Evo rewards.

Timestamps

00:01:20 Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection
00:04:28 MvC2 History...