At gamescom asia 2024 in Singapore, we had the privilege of speaking with Keita “Fuudo” Ai, a prominent figure in the fighting game community and a member of Team Beast. With over a decade of competitive experience, Fuudo has witnessed significant changes in the scene, especially with the recent release of Street Fighter 6. We delved into his journey, insights on character selection, and the balance between personal life and professional gaming.

The Changing Landscape of Fighting Games

Reflecting on his start in 2011, Fuudo noted the transformation in perceptions of pro gaming. “So the biggest change during that time is when I first started there was a lot of anxiety or discomfort for the unknown of being a pro player. It wasn’t a stable job and now throughout the years slowly by slowly there is much more stability in the scene going from Street Fighter four to five and now to six,” he shared. Today, he sees a brighter future, stating, “there’s a lot of optimism in being a pro player. It’s getting bigger, the scene is growing, and as with year on year, there’s optimism that it’s gonna get even bigger and be thriving, and that wasn’t necessarily the case or guarantee to that when I first started.”

Navigating Character Dynamics in Street Fighter 6

Transitioning from Dhalsim to Deejay and now to ED, Fuudo discussed his adaptability in character selection, citing balance changes as a driving factor. “At the beginning I started with Dhalsim and then it was Deejay, but based on the character balance changes, Deejay got weakened so I wasn’t able to think of myself as the strongest player, which I want to prove,” he explained. “As long as ED can serve the purpose of being able to prove that I can be the strongest player to the community and I’m satisfied with that, then I will continue to use ED. But if those conditions were to change and I feel that’s no longer possible, of course I would then decide to change character as I did between these two seasons.”

Looking beyond his own choices, Fuudo highlighted some of the other top-tier characters in the current Street Fighter 6 meta. “First of all there’s obviously ED and Cammy which are cut above the rest. And then below that in no order is Akuma, M. Bison, and Rashid,” he noted, emphasizing the strength of these characters and the competitive balance they bring to the game.

Life Beyond Competition

Despite his lengthy career, Fuudo has remained committed to gaming, including his past experiences in game development. “So previously I actually had experience in the gaming industry and development, from debugging and strategy game production. I haven’t felt and wanted to leave gaming at large,” he revealed. “So if I didn’t go with this path, then I would just do something else in gaming space. It happens that right now I’m a pro gamer, but my life would still be centered around gaming in some aspect or another.”

ビーストでバクテー。これから会場に戻りSFLの作戦、練習、実行をします！！ pic.twitter.com/HwI15Apb48

— Fuudo | ふ〜ど (@TheFuudo) October 19, 2024

Advice for Gamers and Relationships

Married since 2019, Fuudo offered wisdom for fellow players navigating personal relationships. “I don’t think it’s an issue if you are single. If you want to be in love and a relationship, that’s fine, and if you don’t, that’s totally fine. There’s no secret to being attractive, because if I was more popular then that might change my circumstance, but I feel like I was sort of meant to be together with my current partner. And so there isn’t like a strategy to become more cool or more handsome or more popular. Just be yourself, know what you want,” he advised.

Fuudo acknowledged the challenges of balancing marriage with pro gaming and shared how his relaxed attitude helps him stay grounded. “For example, I’m here with my wife, and some other players might find that to be troublesome, thinking, ‘Oh, I want to concentrate on the tournament!’” he explained. But for Fuudo, the presence of his wife doesn’t add pressure; instead, it enhances his experience. “Even though I had lost, I could still go to lunch with my wife and other players, including Daigo, and enjoy that moment, regardless of the tournament results,” he remarked.

適当に入ったお店だったけど雰囲気と味が最高だった。シンガポールの飯美味い！ pic.twitter.com/NCWCr9P1aB

— Fuudo | ふ〜ど (@TheFuudo) October 17, 2024

Fuudo credits much of this harmony to his wife’s understanding of the gaming world and her ability to socialize with his friends and other players. This support, he says, creates a “harmonious and great condition” that allows him to balance both personal and professional life.

Inspiring the Next Generation

As younger players rise through the ranks, Fuudo highlighted Japan’s nurturing environment for talent. “So Japan is a really great environment right now. For example there are middle school players and how they were playing in Momochi’s tournament, like it’s a 3 on 3 tournament,” he noted, celebrating the potential of the new generation in competitive gaming. “And I was amazed at the pipeline of very young talent and Japan has the infrastructure in gaming to display and hone and also have this type of engagement between pro players and younger players teach them not only about the game, but also about the job as well.”

ふ～どさんと会話してる双子w
会話中ガッチガチに緊張してるけど、３人共頑張って下さい(^^) pic.twitter.com/0hijRu0FPo

— むらさき、中１の双子（元、小６の双子） (@murasaki_15922) October 26, 2024

A Message to Fans

Concluding our conversation, Fuudo expressed his aspirations for the future. “I want to create a future where even if I turn 50, 60 eventually, I’ll still be able to win at that age and inspire a new generation. It’s something that really invigorates me. And I’m so thankful for all of the support in getting to that reality and showing that these things are possible. Thank you so much.”