Yoko Shimomura Returns to Street Fighter After 34 Years with New Track in SF6

Yoko Shimomura, the legendary composer behind Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XV, and Street Fighter II, is making a long-awaited return to Capcom’s iconic fighting franchise.

After more than three decades, she’s back with a brand-new track for Street Fighter 6, titled “Edge of Triumph”, releasing as part of the upcoming Elena Update.

A Homecoming Decades in the Making

Shimomura’s last contribution to the series was all the way back in 1991, when she composed much of the beloved soundtrack for Street Fighter II.

Since then, her career has flourished, with unforgettable compositions across franchises like Mario & Luigi, Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts—the latter becoming her most defining body of work.

Now, 34 years later, she returns to Street Fighter with a fresh sound for SF6 players to enjoy. “We’ve teamed up with game music composer Yoko Shimomura for a special collaboration!” the official Street Fighter X (formerly Twitter) account posted on June 2.

The Elena Update will introduce the returning fighter Elena, alongside new balance changes and additional gameplay features. Players will be able to choose Shimomura’s new track via the game’s character BGM settings for an extra layer of hype during matches.

A Year of Recognition

Shimomura’s return to Street Fighter comes at a time when her career is being celebrated across the industry:

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Game Developers Choice Awards 2024, honoring her 35+ year legacy in gaming.

• BAFTA Fellowship – BAFTA Games Awards 2025, the highest accolade from BAFTA, awarded for her enduring contributions to game music.

What’s Next for Shimomura?

While not officially confirmed, it’s widely expected that Shimomura will return as the lead composer for Kingdom Hearts 4, currently in development at Square Enix. Until then, Street Fighter 6 marks her first active involvement with the franchise since the arcade glory days of the early ’90s.

About Yoko Shimomura

• Born: October 19, 1967, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

• Known for: Blending classical, pop, and electronic elements to create emotionally rich and memorable video game music.

• Notable Works:

  • Street Fighter II (1991)

  • Super Mario RPG (1996)

  • Kingdom Hearts series (2002–present)

  • Final Fantasy XV (2016)

• Career Path:

  • Capcom (1988–1993): Composed arcade classics including SFII

  • Square Enix (1993–2002): Worked on RPG hits

  • Freelance (2002–present): Continues to collaborate on major titles including Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi series and projects with Tetsuya Nomura

What’s your favorite Yoko Shimomura soundtrack? Let us know in the comments and tell us how Edge of Triumph ranks among her greatest hits!