Zelina Vega Explains How The Creation Of Her In-Game Role Came About And Claims That She Is Street Fighter 6’s Michael Cole.

Zelina Vega explains her role as an in-game commentator in the video game Street Fighter 6.

Vega was confirmed as an in-game commentator in Street Fighter 6 during the WWE Royal Rumble 2023. Vega cosplayed as Juri from the popular franchise and competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble battle at the premium live event.

Vega explained how the opportunity came about on Out of Character with Ryan Satin, saying that it started when the group noticed her doing some commentary for one of Andrade’s matches.

“They said I’m like the Michael Cole of the game. So basically, when the game starts, you get to pick, there’s the real-time commentators, which is one of me. There’s two people you can choose from, and there’s the other commentators, who are more on the technical stuff. They’ll tell you this specific move at this time with this amount of power. They know all the stats. Me, I’m just more of the screamer and the reactions. But what’s funny is they saw me doing commentary for one of Andrade’s matches, and that’s what made them go, ‘We want that.’ Actually, rewinding past that, they see me cosplay Vega, and they’re like, ‘Oh, she’s a fan.’ Then it was like Vega cosplay to then seeing me on commentary for Andrade’s matches, and then they were like, ‘Okay, we want her,'” 

Zelina Vega on Out Of Character

Satin said that being a part of the game must be a dream come true, and Vega agreed, stating that her younger self is still screaming with joy. Zelina explained that her ring name is derived from the Street Fighter character Vega, and she recalled getting in trouble for cosplaying as Vega at the WWE Royal Rumble 2019.

“100% it is, and of course, younger me is still screaming internally, but in the best of ways. I mean, Vega, that’s where I got the last name from is from Street Fighter Vega. I was like, ‘This would be a really cool thing.’ I got in so much trouble that day, though. I remember some person was just like, ‘They’re going to take you out of the DVD, this is so bad, you could get in trouble.’ Then all of a sudden going, ‘Actually, yeah, that was a really cool thing you did. Good for you.’ Then everybody started doing that,” 

Zelina Vega on Out Of Character

When Satin inquired about how getting inspiration from a character works, Vega said that she had no idea it could be a problem. Xavier Woods had tried to advise her after the fact, but she had already worn the gear out to the ring.

“I didn’t know, though. I thought that you could. I didn’t know that was a thing, and then I remember [Xavier] Woods going like, ‘No, no, no, that’s too close.’ I was like, ‘Well, I already did it. I was already out there. Way to give me a heads up now.’ I was walking around in the mask all day and no one said anything. I think they were just like, ‘Oh, that’s Zelina just being weird.’ So I don’t know,”

Zelina Vega on Out Of Character

After stating that she had recorded her lines for the game, which would be released on June 2, Vega recalled going to Capcom’s offices to meet the team behind the game. Vega described the event as “mind-blowing,” noting that she is one of three people who have seen Street Fighter 6. She went on to say that she believes the game is going to shock people in the best way possible.

“When I was in Japan, I got to go to the Capcom headquarters, which was mind-blowing, and just to be with the people there that, first of all, are the coolest people ever and in charge of everything, whether it’s the directors or the creators, the people that came up with the styles and everything, just insanely nice people. Then I see the game in its entirety, which, I think only three people actually have, and I’m one of those people, so it’s really cool. Once I saw everything, I’m like, ‘This game is insane.’ It’s not just what people think it is. There’s so much more to it. Everyone’s gonna be super shocked in the best way,” 

Zelina Vega on Out Of Character

Vega also mentioned working together with Rey Mysterio in the same interview.

h/t Fightful

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