In Street Fighter (2026), Ryu and Ken Masters, once brothers-in-arms under their master Gouken, have drifted apart ever since a tragic showdown with Akuma that ended with Gouken’s death.
Years later, Chun-Li, an undercover Interpol agent, recruits both of them to compete in the World Warrior Tournament, secretly organized by the ruthless dictator M. Bison. His real goal: harvesting fighters’ energy to power himself and the wish to control the supernatural force the deity Akuma embodies.
Ken, disillusioned and chasing fame, signs up. Ryu initially refuses but ultimately enters the competition after defeating E. Honda, hoping to pull Ken out before it’s too late. Chun-Li seeks personal revenge—her father was murdered by Bison.
During the tournament, Ryu is kidnapped by Bison and subjected to experiments designed to extract his latent power. He’s forced to fight Blanka under duress. Meanwhile, Ken wins match after match, reaching the semifinals.
Ryu's ordeal awakens a darker side of himself—Dark Ryu. This corrupted persona lets him finally defeat Akuma, though it threatens to consume him. In the end, Ken, Chun-Li, and Dan Hibiki help pull Ryu back from the darkness using strength, friendship, and sacrifice.
Bison escapes with a weakened but alive Akuma, setting the stage for future conflict. The heroes—Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Dan, Guile, and Dhalsim—unite in resolve, knowing there’s more at stake than just a tournament.
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