Saudi-Backed Boxing Game: Japanese Fans' Reaction

Takashi Nishiyama, the visionary behind the iconic Street Fighter series, is embarking on a new venture: a boxing game developed in partnership with The Ring, a renowned boxing magazine. This exciting collaboration was announced via the official X account of Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024. The untitled game promises to blend original characters with the deep boxing expertise of The Ring, leveraging the extensive game development experience of Dimps, Nishiyama's company.

The announcement, shared on May 5, 2025, highlighted the forthcoming project as a strategic partnership aimed at combining "The Ring’s unmatched authority in boxing with game developer Dimps’ decades-long experience in crafting classic games." Dimps, which recently released Freedom Wars Remastered for modern consoles in January 2025, is set to start development on this new boxing title soon.

The involvement of the Saudi Arabian royal family in Japan's gaming sector has been on the rise, with a significant investment in SNK, where Nishiyama once worked and created the Fatal Fury series. The Ring Magazine has further connected with SNK by promoting the upcoming Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, including a boxing match collaboration event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025.

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Japanese audiences have responded to the news of The Ring and Dimps collaboration with a mix of surprise and anticipation. Many are eager to experience the game, with sentiments ranging from excited exclamations of "What?!! I want to play it!" to curiosity about the final product. X user @ryo_redcyclone, known for his Street Fighter content, reflected on Nishiyama's past comments about choosing street fighting over regulated sports to allow for more creative freedom. He expressed curiosity about how Nishiyama would approach the rule-bound sport of boxing in this new game.

The primary concern among fans is whether the rules of boxing will constrain Nishiyama's renowned creativity, especially given the unique and often rule-defying characters and moves seen in his previous works. For instance, Street Fighter's Balrog, a character inspired by Mike Tyson, incorporates moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which would be prohibited in professional boxing. It remains to be seen if The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will adhere strictly to boxing's rules or if it will embrace a more fantastical approach.