Street Fighter Creator's New Boxing Game: Japanese Fans' Reaction

The announcement of a new boxing game developed by Takashi Nishiyama, the creator of Street Fighter, in collaboration with The Ring magazine, has sparked excitement and curiosity across the gaming community. The news, revealed by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, underscores a unique partnership that aims to blend The Ring's authoritative voice in boxing with Dimps' extensive experience in creating iconic games.

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… pic.twitter.com/LRWyyZzkpz

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 5, 2025

Dimps, Nishiyama's company, most recently released Freedom Wars Remastered in January 2025, a testament to their ongoing commitment to quality gaming experiences. The new boxing game is poised to begin development soon, promising to introduce original characters and a fresh take on the sport.

The Saudi Arabian royal family's growing interest in Japan's gaming industry is evident, with significant investments such as the complete acquisition of SNK by the Saudi Crown Prince's foundation in April 2024. The Ring Magazine's involvement extends beyond this new project, having promoted SNK's Fatal Fury: City of Wolves with 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 other flagship titles like Metal Slug and King of Fighters, adds an intriguing layer to this collaboration.

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View 11 ImagesJapanese fans have expressed a mix of surprise and anticipation regarding the The Ring and Dimps collaboration. Reactions range from enthusiastic comments like “What?!! I want to play it!” to curiosity about how the game will turn out.

@ryo_redcyclone, a notable Street Fighter enthusiast on X, shared his thoughts on the project: “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 gaming community is particularly interested in whether the structured rules of boxing will limit Nishiyama's creative flair, known for its quirky characters and unconventional moves. For instance, Street Fighter's character Balrog, a Mike Tyson lookalike, incorporates moves like kicks and the Buffalo Head, which defy traditional boxing regulations.

As anticipation builds, fans are eager to see if The Ring and Dimps' new boxing game will lean towards realism or embrace the rule-breaking style that Nishiyama is known for. This project promises to be a fascinating addition to the world of gaming, merging the rich history of boxing with innovative game design.