Saudi-Backed Boxing Game Sparks Japanese Fan Buzz

Takashi Nishiyama, creator of Street Fighter, has teamed up with longstanding boxing publication The Ring to develop an all-new boxing game. The announcement came via the official X account of Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who acquired The Ring in November 2024.

The untitled project, as revealed in the tweet, will introduce original characters while merging "The Ring's boxing expertise with Dimps' legendary game development pedigree spanning decades."

I'm honored to announce our partnership with legendary game designer Takashi Nishiyama on an upcoming boxing title presented by The Ring, featuring original fighters.

This collaboration blends our boxing legacy with Nishiyama's visionary game design... pic.twitter.com/LRWyyZzkpz

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 5, 2025

Dimps, Nishiyama's development studio, most recently delivered Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025 - an enhanced version of the PlayStation Vita title. Alalshikh's tweet confirmed development will commence shortly.

Saudi Arabia's royal family has deepened its involvement in Japan's gaming sector recently. In April 2024, SNK became wholly owned by the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation. The Ring Magazine also promoted SNK's Fatal Fury: City of Wolves through a special boxing event at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26, 2025. Notably, Nishiyama previously shaped SNK's legacy in the 1990s, creating Fatal Fury and contributing to franchises like Metal Slug and King of Fighters.

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Japanese gaming enthusiasts have responded to The Ring x Dimps collaboration with reactions spanning from shocked excitement ("What?! Must play this!") to intrigued speculation about the final product.

Street Fighter commentator @ryo_redcyclone observed: "Nishiyama once explained choosing street fighting because traditional sports have rules. Now he's tackling boxing - it'll be fascinating to see his approach to this regulated sport."

Many speculate whether boxing regulations might constrain Nishiyama's signature creative style, known for eccentric characters and unconventional combat mechanics.

While Street Fighter features Mike Tyson-inspired Balrog, his kicking attacks and Buffalo Head maneuver clearly break boxing conventions. Fans eagerly await whether this new title will embrace realism or Nishiyama's trademark rule-bending philosophy.