Street Fighter Creator's New Boxing Game: Saudi Funding and Japanese Fan Reactions

The legendary Takashi Nishiyama, creator of Street Fighter, is venturing into a new territory with a boxing game developed in collaboration with the renowned boxing magazine, The Ring. This exciting news was shared on the official X account of Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024.

The untitled game promises to feature original characters and blend "The Ring's unmatched authority in boxing with game developer Dimps' decades-long experience in crafting classic games." Dimps, Nishiyama's own company, recently released Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025, and is set to start development on this new boxing title soon.

This collaboration marks another significant investment by the Saudi Arabian royal family in Japan's gaming industry. Their interest was highlighted when the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation acquired 100% of the shares of Japanese game company SNK in April 2024. The Ring has also been actively promoting SNK's upcoming Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, notably with a boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Nishiyama's past at SNK, where he created the Fatal Fury series and worked on Metal Slug and King of Fighters, adds a rich layer to this partnership.

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Japanese fans have reacted with a mix of surprise and curiosity to the announcement of The Ring and Dimps' collaboration. Social media user @ryo_redcyclone, known for Street Fighter content, commented, "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."

The main concern among fans revolves around how boxing's strict rules might affect Nishiyama's creative freedom, known for his quirky characters and unconventional moves in past fighting games. For instance, Street Fighter's character Balrog, a Mike Tyson lookalike, features moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head that would never be allowed in professional boxing. It remains to be seen whether The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will prioritize realism or embrace rule-breaking creativity.