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

Exciting news for gaming and boxing fans alike: Takashi Nishiyama, the visionary behind the iconic Street Fighter series, is now channeling his expertise into a brand-new boxing game. This project is a collaboration with The Ring, a renowned boxing magazine, and was announced by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, on his official X account. Alalshikh, who acquired The Ring in November 2024, shared that the untitled game will feature original characters and will harness "The Ring's unmatched authority in boxing" alongside the game development prowess of Dimps, Nishiyama's company.

The tweet from Alalshikh reads: "Together with legendary Japanese video game designer Takashi Nishiyama, I am proud to announce a forthcoming boxing game presented by The Ring featuring original characters. This strategic partnership between myself and Nishiyama brings together our unmatched authority in… [pic.twitter.com/LRWyyZzkpz](pic.twitter.com/LRWyyZzkpz) — TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 5, 2025."

Dimps, led by Nishiyama, most recently released Freedom Wars Remastered, a refreshed version of the PlayStation Vita game for modern consoles, in January 2025. Alalshikh's announcement indicates that development on the new boxing game is set to begin soon.

The Saudi Arabian royal family's investment in Japan's gaming industry has been growing, as evidenced 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 title, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, including a unique boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Nishiyama's history with SNK, where he developed the Fatal Fury series and contributed to major franchises like Metal Slug and King of Fighters in the 1990s, adds an intriguing layer to this new venture.

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Japanese fans have shown a range of reactions to the announcement of The Ring and Dimps' collaboration, from enthusiastic surprises like "What?!! I want to play it!" to curious anticipation about the final product. An X user, @ryo_redcyclone, known for Street Fighter content, commented on the news, reflecting on Nishiyama's past statements: "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."

There's considerable interest in whether the strict rules of boxing will limit Nishiyama's creativity, especially given the unconventional characters and moves seen in his previous fighting games. For instance, Street Fighter's Balrog, a clear homage to Mike Tyson, incorporates moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which are far from standard in professional boxing. It remains to be seen whether The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will opt for a realistic depiction of the sport or embrace rule-breaking elements.