Akuma’s unused designs revealed via Street Fighter 6 concept art

We’re over the moon for Akuma’s latest design in Street Fighter 6 as Capcom made the franchise’s most threatening character bigger, bulkier, and more intimidating than ever. That said, it’s always interesting to see what the runner up designs looked like, and thankfully we have a handful to share with you today.

If you clear Akuma’s SF6 arcade mode three times you’ll unlock a page of concept art that shows off nine different versions of him that wound up on the cutting room floor. Some we’re happy to see not make it, but others definitely pique our interest.

The biggest image on the page (perhaps the first runner up?) gives the character a more primal and tattered look. Here he’s only got about 30% of his gi left as the rest has been torn and ripped away from intense training.

Developers also toyed with the idea of giving him even more hair as one design resembles the likes of a Super Saiyan 3 (for you Dragon Ball Z fans) or perhaps even Necalli from Street Fighter 5. We have to point out the facial hair on this one as they gave him a chin strap style that looks quite dapper.

Another unused design looks almost as though it’s modeled after Gen, one of Akuma’s canonical rivals, as the white hair and purple gi are similar to those of the Chinese assassin. The facial hair here is wild, though, as it jets far out to both the left and right in a fairly non-Akuma manner.

The demonic fighter gets in closer touch with nature in the next version as he watches a small bird perched on his finger. This is definitely a different vibe than most of the rest of the designs, including the one we got, as it looks like moss is growing on his hat and clothes.

Another design looks a little more Norwegian while another makes Akuma look a good bit younger. Take a bit to check them all out via the image below and share with us in the comments which stood out to you the most and why.

Click images for larger versions

We recently got to see concept art for Ed as well as for both A.K.I. and Rashid, so be sure to take a look at those if you haven’t gotten the chance to already.

Credit to FGAnniversaries for initially sharing this.