
"Street Fighter V" has received a steady flow of downloadable content and updates, including new characters, costumes, stages, and even an entire story mode, given that the base game did not feature a single-player campaign. Another DLC has been unveiled, and it will be the addition of Akuma to the game's roster.
The official teaser trailer does not show Akuma in battle, but it does reveal that the character is going to be playable first during the upcoming Playstation Experience at the Anaheim Convention Center from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4. The character will then be launched worldwide for players to avail either using real world cash or with in-game currency called Fight Money.
In the trailer, only a brief snapshot of Akuma is shown. The character is presented in his iconic pose in which the Kanji symbol for "heaven" is teased on his outfit. However, a report from Polygon points out that the writing appears different from its traditional form, indicating that the character may undergo major changes in "Street Fighter V."
It is also pointed out that Akuma is the seventh character added to the game. Most recently, fans got Urien from "Street Fighter III" and Juri from "Street Fighter IV."
Akuma is known for playing similarly to Ryu and Ken, given that he was a friend and associate to their master Gouken. In the series' lore, Akuma was Gouken's training partner, but he later turned to the dark side and murdered his master, Gotetsu. Akuma has since been on the hunt for powerful adversaries, and in many games, considered Ryu as his rival.
The character first appeared as a secret boss in "Super Street Fighter II Turbo" and would later become a playable character in subsequent entries in the franchise.
No exact release date for Akuma outside the upcoming Playstation Experience event has been announced.