Home News Saudi-Backed Boxing Game by Street Fighter Creator: Japanese Fans' Reaction

Saudi-Backed Boxing Game by Street Fighter Creator: Japanese Fans' Reaction

by Ethan May 16,2025

The legendary creator of Street Fighter, Takashi Nishiyama, is embarking on an exciting new venture: developing a brand-new boxing game in collaboration with the esteemed boxing magazine, The Ring. This thrilling announcement was shared on the official X account of Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024. The yet-to-be-titled game promises to bring a fresh take on boxing with original characters, leveraging "The Ring's unmatched authority in boxing" alongside the "decades-long experience in crafting classic games" from Dimps, Nishiyama's own game development company.

Dimps, known for its recent release of Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025, is set to begin development on this new boxing title soon, as stated in Alalshikh's tweet. This project marks a significant collaboration, blending the expertise of Nishiyama, a veteran in the gaming industry, with the authoritative voice of The Ring in the boxing world.

The Saudi Arabian royal family's interest in Japan's gaming industry has been steadily growing. This is evidenced by their acquisition of 100% of Japanese game company SNK's shares by the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation in April 2024. The Ring Magazine has further deepened its ties with the gaming world by promoting SNK's upcoming Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, highlighted by a unique boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Nishiyama's historical connection to SNK, where he created the Fatal Fury series and worked on other flagship titles like Metal Slug and King of Fighters during the 1990s, adds an intriguing layer to this partnership.

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Reactions from Japanese audiences to the announcement of The Ring x Dimps collaboration have been a mix of surprised reactions and eager anticipation. Many are excited, with comments like "What?!! I want to play it!" echoing across social media. There's also a palpable curiosity about what the final product will look like. @ryo_redcyclone, an avid Street Fighter enthusiast on X, responded to the news by referencing Nishiyama's past comments on Street Fighter, stating, "Commenting on the first Street Fighter, Nishiyama said: ‘I chose to focus on street fighting because established sports are restricted by rules.’ This time he is making a game based on boxing, a sport with rules, so I’m curious to see how it will turn out."

Concerns have been raised about whether the strict rules of boxing will limit Nishiyama's renowned creativity, especially given the unconventional characters and moves seen in his previous fighting games. Street Fighter, for instance, features Balrog, a character inspired by Mike Tyson, yet his moves, including the infamous Buffalo Head, blatantly defy professional boxing regulations. It remains to be seen whether The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will lean towards realism or embrace the rule-breaking flair that Nishiyama is known for.