In an announcement sure to make PS3 owners cry, Sega has today confirmed that the upcoming Xbox 360 version of Virtua Fighter 5 will indeed launch with online multiplayer functionality in Europe and North America when it releases this fall. The game’s new online versus mode will let two players battle it out over Xbox Live for prizes, in-game money and bragging rights using their choice of 17 fighters or a customized Quest mode character. Both analog stick and D-pad control schemes will be supported as well, along with controller vibration, and the game’s DOJO mode is being upgraded to feature leaderboards and improved training options to allow players more chance to practice and expand their fighting strategies. The game’s Quest mode is also being tweaked a bit for the 360, with new CPU rivals, items, and emblems being introduced.
“Virtua Fighter 5 is the most intense fighting experience available on next-generation consoles,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America. “The addition of online multiplayer support opens up the competition to a global scale enabling players to compete and challenge anyone, anywhere, anytime, using Xbox Live.”
VF5 has been available for the PS3 since February and up until now it is still one of the console’s best titles, with critics’ only major complaint about it being its lack of online play. Debates have raged on about whether or not the Xbox 360 version would include online support, and now that the question has been answered 360 owners can all look forward to getting their hands on an improved version of what is already the best fighting game on the market in its current PS3 form.
Matt Litten is the full-time editor and owner of VGBlogger.com. He is responsible for maintaining the day to day operation of the site, editing all staff content before it is published, and contributing regular news, reviews, previews and other articles.
Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com. After a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez, Matt assumed full ownership over VGBlogger, and to this day he is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary! 
