When you talk about the 90s fighting game boom, you absolutely can't skip over SNK. This legendary game company, right up there with Capcom and SEGA, unleashed mega-popular fighting franchises like The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and Fatal Fury. Now, after lying dormant for nearly 26 years, the latest installment, "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves," finally dropped on April 24th this year.
What truly blew players away was the new character roster, which shockingly includes international football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo! He's not just a mascot or an endorser; he's a fully playable character. And get this – Swedish DJ and music producer Salvatore Ganacci is also joining the fray, completely flipping the script on what a fighting game roster can be.
This seemingly wild crossover isn't just random; there's a backstory. Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi professional football club Al Nassr, and the man who "bought SNK," Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, happens to be a close friend. So, a connection through that relationship isn't surprising at all. DJ Salvatore Ganacci is also one of his favorite musicians.
Back in 2020, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's gaming company, Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC), acquired a 33.3% stake in SNK from Hong Kong-based Zuikaku Co., Limited, making it SNK's largest shareholder. This move caught many fans off guard.
After all, Japan has so many other game companies. While SNK had previously gone bankrupt, making its acquisition cost lower, it wouldn't have been difficult for the Crown Prince to acquire others given his wealth. The key reason? He's a massive SNK fan. According to foreign media reports, he's been a die-hard King of Fighters player since childhood, even having a "secret room" in his home filled with various SNK arcade machines, like his own personal arcade.
Since the acquisition, he's driven the release of games like "The King of Fighters XV" and this year's "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves." He's also launched the "SNK World Championship 2025" annual tournament, announcing a total prize pool of over $2.5 million USD for the qualifiers and grand finals, with the ultimate champion taking home a whopping $1.5 million USD. The hope is that this will encourage more people to play and reignite the IP's popularity!
What's more, we might see even more "real-world celebrities" appearing in SNK games in the future. With Saudi funding, SNK is clearly back in action, but ultimately, the games need to resonate with players. Everyone's eagerly awaiting what other surprises SNK will drop next.
Note: Financial figures and earnings forecasts should be confirmed through the company’s official announcements.
via： 週プレNEWS