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

Takashi Nishiyama, the visionary behind Street Fighter, is set to create a new boxing game in collaboration with The Ring magazine, as announced on Turki Alalshikh's official X account. Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024, shared the exciting news on May 5, 2025. This untitled game will feature original characters and aims to blend The Ring's deep-rooted expertise in boxing with Dimps' rich history of developing classic games.

Dimps, Nishiyama's company, recently released Freedom Wars Remastered for modern consoles in January 2025, showcasing their ongoing commitment to quality gaming experiences. According to Alalshikh, development of the new boxing title is set to commence soon, promising a unique addition to the gaming world.

The Saudi Arabian royal family's interest in Japan's gaming industry has been growing, highlighted by their acquisition of 100% of SNK's shares in April 2024 through the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation. The Ring has also been actively involved in promoting SNK's upcoming game, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, by organizing a boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. This connection is further strengthened by Nishiyama's past at SNK during the 1990s, where he created the Fatal Fury series and contributed to other major titles like Metal Slug and King of Fighters.

Japanese Reactions to The Ring x Dimps Collaboration

The announcement has sparked a range of reactions among Japanese audiences, from enthusiastic surprise to curious anticipation about the final product. X user @ryo_redcyclone, known for his Street Fighter content, expressed his interest: "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 arisen regarding whether the structured rules of boxing might limit Nishiyama's creative freedom, especially given his reputation for designing quirky characters and unconventional moves in past fighting games. For instance, Street Fighter's character Balrog, a Mike Tyson lookalike, uses moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which defy traditional boxing regulations. It remains to be seen whether The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will lean towards realism or embrace a more rule-breaking style.

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