BODY: Japan's fight stick scene just got another premium option. On May 8, 2026, HORI began Amazon.co.jp pre-orders for its second Street Fighter 6-branded leverless controller โ the cumbersomely titled "Street Fighter 6 NOLVA Mechanical All-Button Arcade Controller for PlayStation 5, Windows PC." The launch follows the original SF6 leverless model that helped HORI cement its position in a category long dominated by boutique Western brands like Hit Box and Snack Box.
The "NOLVA" badge signals HORI's push into mechanical-switch territory, a meaningful upgrade for competitive players who have been migrating away from traditional joysticks since Capcom officially permitted leverless devices in tournament play. Mechanical switches deliver crisper actuation and longer lifespans than the membrane buttons found in entry-level all-button controllers, putting this release squarely in the prosumer tier.
Pre-orders going live on Amazon.co.jp matters more than it sounds. HORI's premium peripherals frequently sell out through the company's direct store and Japanese retailers like Yodobashi within hours of announcement, leaving overseas buyers stuck with proxy services and inflated resale prices. Amazon listings typically mean broader stock allocation and โ crucially โ a path for international shipping when HORI eventually opens it.
Capcom's Street Fighter 6 branding continues to be the most valuable license in the fighting game peripheral business, and HORI has clearly secured a multi-product deal. Expect Ryu, Ken, and Luke artwork, plus the now-standard SF6 logo treatment that buyers have come to associate with tournament-grade gear.
The insider take
From Tokyo, this release reads as HORI quietly cornering the domestic leverless market while Western competitors struggle with import duties and JIS certification. Japanese arcade culture took years to accept leverless controllers โ many older players still consider them heretical โ but with EVO Japan and Capcom Cup driving visibility, mechanical all-button pads are now a legitimate status symbol at Mikado and other Tokyo arcades. HORI knows exactly which shelf this belongs on.
Originally reported by 4Gamer.net โ ๆๆฐ่จไบ (Japanese).