Exciting news for fans of fighting games and boxing enthusiasts alike: Takashi Nishiyama, the creator of the iconic Street Fighter series, is venturing into the world of boxing with a new game developed in collaboration with The Ring magazine. The announcement was made by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024. The game, still untitled, promises to feature original characters and will blend The Ring's deep boxing expertise with the seasoned game development skills of Dimps, Nishiyama's own company.
The collaboration was revealed through a tweet by Alalshikh, showcasing his enthusiasm for the project: "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…" The tweet hints at an imminent start to the game's development, following Dimps' recent release of Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025.
This move comes at a time when the Saudi Arabian royal family is deepening its ties with Japan's gaming industry. In a significant development in April 2024, it was disclosed that the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation had acquired full ownership of Japanese game company SNK. The Ring has been actively involved in promoting SNK's upcoming title, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, and even organized a boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Nishiyama's history with SNK, where he created the Fatal Fury series and contributed to major franchises like Metal Slug and King of Fighters, adds an interesting layer to this new venture.
Japanese Reactions to The Ring x Dimps Collaboration
The announcement has sparked a range of reactions among Japanese gaming fans. From surprised exclamations of "What?!! I want to play it!" to curiosity about the final product, the anticipation is palpable. X user @ryo_redcyclone, known for his Street Fighter content, commented on Nishiyama's transition from street fighting to boxing: "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 been raised about whether boxing's stringent rules will limit Nishiyama's renowned creativity, especially given the unconventional characters and moves seen in his previous works. Street Fighter's Balrog, a character resembling Mike Tyson, famously incorporates moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which are far from the norms of professional boxing. As such, fans are eager to see if The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will adhere to realistic boxing regulations or embrace a more rule-breaking style.
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