Competitive scene favourite Street Fighter 5 is taking a new approach to DLC, copying the methods employed by free to play MMOs and MOBAs (amongst others) that will allow players to earn extra characters via playing the game – in Capcom's own words:

First and foremost, Street Fighter V will feature a brand new service-based approach with regards to post-launch content. With this approach come several key changes to our content strategy:

1.The initial release is the only disc you will ever need to own

2. All balance and system adjustments will be available for free

3. All post-launch gameplay related content will be earnable for free by playing the game

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We are able to execute this service-based model by introducing an in-game economy to Street Fighter V. There are two types of currency that make the economy go round:

1. Fight Money

This is basic currency that players earn through playing the game. Once players accumulate enough Fight Money, they can use it to earn new post-launch gameplay content, such as characters, for free!

2. Zenny

This is premium currency that players can purchase with real money to immediately gain access to post-launch content.

Previously iterations of Street Fighter games have been split into Turbo, Super and Ultra editions (amongst many many others) but this new approach will mean players don't have to buy newer editions of the game to play with their friends who've moved on to the latest version. While it's easy to be cynical about this approach by way of developers handling earnable content badly in the past the model does sound familiar and we'll have to wait and see, but even if it is a grind to unlock a new character it's easy to see that this is a step in the right direction for Capcom and the Street Fighter series.