How many version of Virtua Fighter do I own?...VF1, VF1Remix, VF2, Fighters Megamix, VF3tb, VF4, VF4evo...Streetfighters?...I don't even know I have so many.
I don't know what happened to the legacy of fighting games, I love VF, but for some reason I still haven't bought part 5. I think it boils down to my friends not playing it. I already have a lot of niche titles that nobody I know plays, and that would add to the list, I will get it soon...Sometime. I used to have friends that played fighting games, now most the people i know that play video games only play sports games.
I think people need to get used to the ideas of playing them online; for a long time it wasn't possible, and maybe people just haven't adopted the idea, while there was that gap in online play, FPS took over people’s interest.
Another idea; they take more dedication to be just okay at. And if you go online just being okay, you'll get smashed. Fighting games have a steeper learning curve then FPS.