Did you know Street Fighter 6 has a virtual pet and more cool hidden stuff?

Among the long list of things that Street Fighter 6 excels at, one of the most impressive has to be the sense of community and scale around the online component of the game. The MMO-style Battle Hub environment does a brilliant job of fostering an arcade-like community on the internet, but did you know that the adventures can also continue, to some degree, in your browser?

Sadly little publicized, but nonetheless there and waiting for SF6 players is Buckler’s Training Camp, a subsection of the game’s official website that basically exists to give you a window into the Battle Hub and CFN (Capcom Fighters Network) from the outside. of the game. And the website is actually quietly brilliant.

On a basic level, this website would be fully functional if it were just a news feed announcing battle passes, DLC characters, server maintenance, and other in-game news. But Buckler’s Boot Camp is actually much more than that, and speaks to the level of care and attention Capcom has put into all aspects of Street Fighter 6.

So yes, you can check CFN activity feed and game data. You can view your ranking (Platinum 5 Rank Cammy here, reporting), plus see which players in your region and skill group are on hot streaks online right now. Details of any clubs you’ve joined are also available, as is your friends list. You can also do CFN admin work here: add friends, join clubs, etc. Everything you do on the website is reflected in the game, which is helpful.

This is all good… but also, the Buckler Boot Came is so much more than that. Some of this is useful. Like ‘Member Cards’, you can export ones that show your rank, majors, and various other data about you (useful for posting on social media). Those interested in lore can dive into Udon Comics’ Street Fighter 6 prelude comic, offered as a digital freebie. Then there are lovely and strange things.

For example, there’s Pockest, a Street Fighting Tamagotchi in all but name, which can be played directly on the website. Here you raise a feisty little monster, who evolves, eats, poops, and needs you to take care of him like he’s hanging from your backpack in 1998. This encourages you to return to the website to check on him regularly, and it’s a bit of a side distraction for own right.

When you return to the Website, you may receive a pleasant little surprise from time to time. If you’ve been playing SF6 as a specific character, for example, you might get a message sent to you through the app: a little text from Cammy, Ken, or someone else. These offer little drops of knowledge, but are also meant to anchor you, to connect you to SF6’s never-ending journey of becoming stronger under the tutelage of master fighters.

All this is totally superfluous, obviously. You don’t need to commit to it. Your enjoyment of Street Fighter 6, or access to its content, isn’t remotely related to your willingness to text Chun-Li, or clean up the little shit from some weird digital pet. But if you want it… it’s all there.

It’s a sign that Capcom is going above and beyond, creating not only a great game, but also a great platform. A great community space to hang out. A great thing to belong to. These are the things that set Street Fighter 6 apart, and that’s why it’s undoubtedly one of the best games of the year.

So if you’re playing SF6, check out the ones you easily miss Buckler’s Boot Camp website. And if you’re not playing SF6… seriously, what’s wrong with you?