Japanese News Show Spotlights Drinkable Street Fighter 6 Trading Cards

A Japanese news program has highlighted what it believes could be the next big trend in Japan: drinkable Street Fighter 6 trading cards. Each card holds a 12ml shot of an energy drink and features artwork from Capcom's fighting game roster.

To consume, you simply fold the card in half—a move that would normally make collectors cringe—and sip the small amount of liquid from the center. The cards, called Energy Arts, were shown with designs for Ryu, E. Honda, Dhalsim, Jamie, and Vega. Here's the clip:

A Japanese news show featured drinkable trading cards in its ranking of possible hit products for 2027. Each card contains 12ml of an energy drink and the card/drink company already has a collab with Capcom's Street Fighter. https://t.co/XufheWvDvB

The news channel predicted the product will be a big hit in Japan in 2027. In the show's ranking, Energy Arts cards came in fifth, behind a mysterious collection of odd names: Human Certificate, Fresh Food Crane Game, Muse Charm, and Edible Cactus "Sabo-Vege."

Energy Arts cards were originally announced earlier this year. The official press release stated there are 24 cards to collect, and the concept behind the product was to "overturn the conventional idea of drinking" with what it called a "smart replenishment."

It was created with esports players in mind, allowing them to get a little sustenance and energy between rounds without taking time out for things like "drinking" a bottle of water.

"Whether you're playing a game, taking an exam, attending a meeting, or driving — in situations where concentration is required, the fact that refueling = interruption of concentration is a challenge for many people," said the press release.

Instead of relying on caffeine like most energy drinks, the formula is built around what the company calls "fast-acting amino acids." Apparently, the small quantity of juice inside cuts down on "the toilet problem," because your bladder will probably barely register it.

You can leave the cards unopened for 18 months before the drink inside goes bad. I don't know what the process is for keeping them as a collectible if you don't want to bend them or unseal them in any way.