The FGC has become too serious and we need more people like Hayao

In recent times, the Fighting Game Community (FGC) has been too serious for its own good and has forgotten how to have fun while playing the games they love. I don’t blame the community, though. It’s easy to lose sight of fun if there’s a million dollars dangling in front of you to claim, as long as you’re good enough.

It also doesn’t help that the video game industry is going through something of a downturn, with Sony thinking it’s a wise idea to stop producing physical CDs and to make Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls not playable in over a hundred countries. This has obviously sent the fighting game community into a frenzy, thinking that the studio has lost its mind for wanting to return to a practice that’s been considered barbaric.

In the midst of all of this, if you’re on FGC Twitter, then you probably have been flashbanged by legendary Ryuji “Hayao” Hayashi’s behind on your timeline. In my case, it was actually Andrew “Jiyuna” Fidelis’s tweet that brought it to my attention.

Then, the chain effect started. Christopher “NYChrisG” Gonzalez tweeted about it, while other members of the FGC tried to wash to wash their eyes after what they just witnessed.

It’s definitely a great tonal shift. Maybe even too jarring for other people. However, I believe that we need more people like Ryuji “Hayao” Hayashi. Just to clarify, no, I’m not talking about people who would post things like that on a regular basis.

I’m talking about what Hayao’s role is in the FGC.

I sincerely believe that we need more showmen in the FGC. The most fun parts of tournaments are the wild things that are happening at the event, such as Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique playing Tekken 8 shirtless and spreading cash all over his arm. We also had the old Lee “Poongko” Chung-gon, who also removed his shirt during matches that he found particularly difficult. Unfortunately, he no longer does this and has distanced himself from his old identity. Now, he just plays like a normal FGC competitor, without his previous flair.

This is what I’m talking about when I said that we need more people like Hayao in the FGC. These people are very entertaining to watch. Seeing Hayao do all those theatrics, doing perfect splits while also beating up his opponents in the most amazing ways. Keep in mind, this man is 43, and he’s still more flexible than I am.

I was first exposed to Hayao during Evo Vegas 2024, where he showed prowess in his main game: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. He’s called the “Hugo God,” and he showed why he’s definitely one of the best 3rd Strike players in the world.

During the tournament, he was responsible for a sequence of events called the “Evo Moment #38,” where he air parried Franklin “FrankieBFG” Nunez’s air tatsumaki kicks while at dangerously low health and won the game because of it. All while doing some theatrics in front of the already amazed crowd.

Just take a look at this.

Another person who’s doing a little bit of showmanship himself is Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II. He basically does a stare-off against his opponents in the top eight of majors, which amplifies the intensity of the match to a certain degree. This kind of showmanship is quite different from Hayao’s flamboyant display, but it’s still great.

Not as great as Hayao’s, though, but that’s just me.

This is the essence that the FGC has lost throughout the years. Some attribute this to the modernization of the FGC and the entrance of big money, essentially saying that the FGC is becoming less and less grassroots as the years go by. However, I’ve already talked about this countless times, but I simply do not believe in that sentiment. Games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, and VALORANT all have personalities that fit the “showman” archetype, and they all have been very entertaining to watch.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that everyone should be a showman. It’s just that there’s a lack of it in the community, which is kind of sad to see.

If you’ve been around the FGC for quite some time, then you might’ve encountered Japanese Street Fighter 6 players doing some funny match celebrations at Combo Breaker 2026. It’s the Joey Wheeler face from the anime Yu-Gi-Oh!, where Joey did a weird face in one of the episodes.

For me, this is a strong reminder that there are still people in the FGC who are having fun. Let’s face it, it’s true that the current state of the world is depressing – and this extends to the esports circle. However, people like Hinao and Hayao show us that while they are very strong competitors, they are still here to have fun.

While they may not notice this, their antics give happiness to the spectators and even the casters. As long as it’s done in good taste, of course.

Currently, it’s the Japanese FGC that seems to get this concept. North America has a tendency to be quite loose and casual, but most of the time, they don’t really do any big-time theatrics on camera. The best one recently is probably Victor “Punk” Woodley teabagging at Evo Japan 2026, and nothing else comes close to it. [Editor’s Note: And Americans called it “disrespectful” while Japanese fans celebrated it.]

Esports, just like traditional sports, is a type of entertainment for the masses. Sure, it’s entertaining to watch two people playing at the highest level of your favorite game and seeing how certain players overcome their obstacles to become the champions they’re destined to be. However, for me, there will always be a special place for people who also know how to play to the crowd and give a great show.

Hayao’s performance transcended Evo Vegas’s venue. I wasn’t there. I was just watching the tournament online, and I remember the feeling of excitement after Hayao’s win. It made me feel like I was at the venue with him, celebrating his win together with the other people who went up to the stage and gave him high fives.

I believe this is the power showmen have, and it can definitely make the scene a lot more interesting.

I talk about showmen in the FGC like they’re a dime a dozen. I know that they’re pretty rare and that seeing one that’s as good as Hayao is most likely a rare event. It’ll also feel very weird if the FGC suddenly starts acting like Hayao. It’ll make the whole scene feel like a circus and might turn off potential viewers or people interested in the genre.

I genuinely hope there are more of them out there just waiting for their chance at the spotlight. We do have cosplayers, artists, and creatives who are also top players, which is pretty cool. But a real showman brings a different energy to the table.