Capcom announced some new costumes for a handful of its currently announced combatants as pre-order bonuses for Street Fighter V. As they all look pretty unique and interesting (including what looks to be a subtly redesigned Cammy), a well placed beard has changed the costume game as far as series poster child Ryu is concerned. We all know the effects of well-placed facial hair on the human psyche, but the Internet has been set especially ablaze by the Ryu’s new found lumbersexuality. Don’t believe me?
Is that the actual name of the costume? Hot Ryu? Anyway, he’s pretty hot in a DILF kind of way…
— Erica Jones (@eremgee) August 31, 2015
Not only do I dig ‘Dad Ryu’, I actually think this is how Ryu should look for his default costume #StreetFighterV pic.twitter.com/fOPLmeLlPN
— Sir Topham Hatt (@RainiacDaManiac) September 1, 2015
This is actually pretty tame in comparison. There are fully realized Hot Dad Ryu – the name he was christened with by the collective thirst of Twitter – fanfictions being written on Twitter as I type this.
Hot Ryu the type of dude to take you out for hikes in the mountains and support you the entire time as you take in how beautiful it is
— Bloody Honey (@BloodyBHoney) August 31, 2015
Hot Ryu steadying you when you stumble on the bus, his grip firm but gentle
— Frankly, I’m Malcolm (@DrShenanigans) August 31, 2015
Hot Ryu sternly gets you out of bed to make sure to get to your appointment on time but woke up early to get you a seasonal latte and scone
— Patrick Miller (@pattheflip) August 31, 2015
Some recognized his striking resemblance to other popular fiction icons.
It has been brought to my attention that Hot Ryu looks like a buff William Riker. *Hotness Intensifies* pic.twitter.com/Eil25c8t4m
— Isaac goes alone (@IsaacCalfy) September 1, 2015
I hear @maddigrr is into the new Hot Ryu pic.twitter.com/N1cx9EuuyE
— GROOVY GORGAR (@GroovyGorgar) September 1, 2015
Some folks were taking this event as a sign to explore new parts of themselves.
just wrote 200 words on how men desperately need hot ryu i’m into this
— mattie (@xMattieBrice) September 1, 2015
@StreetFighter OK even I think the new bonus bearded Ryu skin is pretty hot… What?! I’m secure in my manhood… That beard tho… #hotryu
— CrunchyTuna (@Crunchytunaguy) September 1, 2015
This whole “Hot Ryu” thing is stupid and overblown. No way he looks that *click* OK seriously that’s a good looking dude.
— Ben Kuchera (@BenKuchera) August 31, 2015
Some people were asking the tough questions.
Who’s the hotter video game dad: hot ryu or big boss
— Tim (@ABigDumbBaby) September 1, 2015
Is Hot Ryu the most significant event in videogame history? http://t.co/BoRdhqHfQc pic.twitter.com/qdBWgwBVRV
— NeoGAF New Threads (@NeoGAFNewThread) September 1, 2015
At least one person was Team Ryu pre-beard.
I see that Hot Ryu is trending. You saying he wasn’t hot already? #HeCanFightInMyStreets
— FSMK (@FSMKGaznor) August 31, 2015
Before the trend ended, people would step up and examine the dark side of it all.
“Hot Ryu?” pssh He’s not a REAL man REAL MEN HAVE CURVES The games press is just a buncha fat shaming ultrasexists! pic.twitter.com/PCpUGViURT
— ZM? (@ZM_Anon) September 1, 2015
How do I text my mom a picture hot Ryu and ask DOESNT THIS LOOK LIKE DAD without it being weird I will pay someone $5 for a solution
— DLordCountSwagula666 (@Doo_liss) September 1, 2015
Simply put: Hot Dad Ryu has ushered us into a new era of beard-born thirst. Revel with us in the comments, or tweet us @CurseGamepedia.