The open beta for Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage on Nintendo Switch 2 (and cross-platform testing with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC/Steam) is all about stress-testing the online infrastructure ahead of the full launch on March 26, 2026.
It's not a full game demo—it's laser-focused on online multiplayer reliability, especially cross-play matchmaking and rollback netcode performance.
Core Gameplay in the Beta
You'll get the classic, precise Virtua Fighter 5 3D fighting system intact for authentic testing:
- Bone-crunching strikes, throws, grapples, ring-outs, and combo strings.
- Stance switches, guard impacts, wall combos, and high/low/mid mix-ups.
- New moves, returned fan-favorite combos, and balance updates from recent patches (first major tweaks in over a decade).
The beta emphasizes smooth, low-latency online battles thanks to rollback netcode—expect 60fps fights that feel responsive even across continents (wired Ethernet is highly recommended for best results).
What's Playable in the Beta
- Online Modes — Quick matchmaking (ranked/unranked), player rooms/custom lobbies (mostly 1v1, with potential for team battles), and full cross-platform PvP against anyone on any supported platform.
- Roster — The full base roster of 19 characters is available, including staples like
Akira Yuki
Pai Chan
Lau Chan
Wolf Hawkfield
Jeffry McWild
Kage-Maru
Sarah Bryant
Jacky Bryant
Shun Di
Lion Rafale
Aoi Umenokoji
Taka-Arashi
Lei-Fei
Vanessa Lewis
Brad Burns
Goh Hinogami
Eileen
El Blaze, and Jean Kujo
(Dural is playable via separate DLC in the full game).
- Stages — A selection of classic arenas to keep network testing balanced and focused—no full stage list confirmed for beta, but enough variety for solid matchmaking trials.
What's Not Included (Beta Limitations)
- No offline/single-player content: Skip Arcade, Training Mode, the new "World Stage" immersive tournament mode (where you battle 1000+ rivals across 7 booths, unlock custom items, and face CPUs trained on real pro player data), or any story/progression elements.
- No leaderboards, customization unlocks, progression saves, or deep replay features.
- Expect typical beta quirks: occasional glitches, disconnects, lag spikes, or balance oddities—your feedback helps fix them before launch!
How to Jump In
Download the free
“Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage Ver. Beta”
from the Nintendo eShop on your Switch 2 right now (it requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership for online play).
Cross-play is enabled by default on Switch 2; players on other platforms enable it in their full versions.
The beta runs until February 24, 2026, 11:59 AM JST (that's February 23, ~9:59 PM EST for you).
Hit up the official VF Discord to share feedback, find matches, and stay updated on patches.
This beta is your chance to help polish the netcode for the definitive cross-platform Virtua Fighter experience. Who's jumping in tonight—Akira main? Jacky? Drop your pick below! 👊
Sources & Links
- Official announcement:
