The creator of Street Fighter, Takashi Nishiyama, has announced a thrilling new venture into the world of boxing games, collaborating with the esteemed 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 upcoming untitled game, set to begin development soon, promises to merge The Ring’s unparalleled authority in boxing with the seasoned expertise of Dimps, Nishiyama's company known for classics like Freedom Wars Remastered, which was recently released for modern consoles in January 2025.
According to Alalshikh’s tweet, the game will feature original characters, blending authenticity with innovation. This collaboration marks a significant partnership between Alalshikh and Nishiyama, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to the boxing game genre.
The Saudi Arabian royal family's investment in Japan's gaming industry has been on the rise, highlighted by the complete acquisition of SNK's shares by the Saudi Crown Prince’s foundation in April 2024. The Ring has also been actively involved in promoting SNK’s upcoming title, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, through a unique boxing match event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Nishiyama, who previously worked at SNK during the 1990s and was instrumental in creating the Fatal Fury series, as well as contributing to Metal Slug and King of Fighters, adds a layer of rich gaming history to this new project.
Japanese Reactions to The Ring x Dimps Collaboration
The announcement has sparked a variety of reactions among Japanese gaming enthusiasts. From excited exclamations of “What?!! I want to play it!” to curiosity about the final product, the community is buzzing with anticipation. An X user, @ryo_redcyclone, known for his Street Fighter content, expressed his thoughts on the project, highlighting Nishiyama’s past comments on Street Fighter: “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 is a notable concern about whether the structured rules of boxing might limit Nishiyama's renowned creativity, known for the quirky characters and unconventional moves in his previous works. For instance, Street Fighter's character Balrog, resembling Mike Tyson, includes moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which clearly defy professional boxing regulations. It will be fascinating to observe whether The Ring and Dimps' new game will embrace a realistic approach to boxing or venture into rule-breaking territory, staying true to Nishiyama's innovative style.
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