Sega sends word from E3 that Virtua Fighter 5 will be exclusive to the Playstation 3 console.

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. announced today that the highly anticipated arcade game, Virtua Fighter 5, will make its way onto the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system in Spring 2007. This latest installment in the critically-acclaimed series will elevate the arcade fighting genre to all-new heights as it takes true advantage of the capabilities of the next-generation hardware. Game footage will be on display at the 2006 Entertainment Electronic Expo on May 10-12 in the SEGA booth.

Virtua Fighter 5 will feature an all-star cast of 17 fighters, including characters from the previous iterations along with two new characters named El Blaze and Eileen. El Blaze is a Mexican fighting champion who defeats opponents with his quick Lucha Libre fighting style. Eileen, originally from China, uses a Monkey Kung-Fu fighting style that she learned from her grandfather, a former Kung-Fu master. Players will be able to customize their characters by selecting from four uniquely patterned costumes and a wide range of attachable items that can be placed onto each fighter’s various body parts.

Virtua Fighter 5 will deliver fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action as players head into battle, taking on a host of popular characters. Players will not only achieve victory by defeating highly-skilled opponents, but will also compete for prizes and earn in-game money through the match to buy many items at an in-game shop. These items allow players to customize their ultimate warrior and become the top Virtua Fighter. In addition, the game will introduce "Offensive Move", a new maneuver that will allow players to easily approach opponents from the side, adding a more strategic element to the battle. The game will support 720p HD resolution.

"Virtua Fighter 5 will offer fans the ultimate next-generation fighting game experience," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "For years, the industry has talked about bringing the arcade experience to the living room. Virtua Fighter 5 fulfills this promise, and then some."

Virtua Fighter 5 is being developed by SEGA Studios and will be available on the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 in Spring 2007.