'Streets of Rage 4' Marks Return of SEGA Franchise After 25 Years

Way before Grand Theft Auto gave you the chance to raise hell on the block, there was Streets of Rage on the SEGA Genesis. And finally, after 25 years, gamers will get to bare-knuckle brawl to hot electronic music once again with Streets of Rage 4, on platforms yet to be announced.

On Monday, French developer Lizardcube, Montréal studio Guard Crush Games, and Paris-based publisher Dotemu announced Streets of Rage 4, the first new game in the series since 1994’s Streets of Rage 3.

The game’s official website touts hand-drawn animation, “classic gameplay” with “enhanced” new mechanics, “a thumping soundtrack,” and both solo and multiplayer modes. The press release also confirms that the game will pick up after the events of Streets of Rage 3, ensuring that the game is not a reboot but a full-blown continuation.

The reveal trailer for the game confirms the return of Streets of Rage staples Axel Stone and judo/sambo master Blaze Fielding. It is unknown if more characters from the series will be playable characters.

Beginning with Streets of Rage in 1991, the series follows a group of hot-headed martial arts masters who seek to get rid of all the criminal syndicates in their city.

While Streets of Rage was an influential “beat ‘em up” game — along with Final Fight, Golden Axe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time — the series has endured primarily due to its revolutionary soundtrack, composed by Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima and considered an early forerunner to today’s EDM and a prime example of the chiptune genre.

There is currently no release date for Streets of Rage 4.