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Weirdly Enough Street Fighter Creator Is Making a Boxing Game

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming  |  By Mollie Dominy  |  Last updated May 13, 2025 10:38 PM ET

Okay, fighting game fans—this one’s wild and not sure how to take it. Takashi Nishiyama, the legendary creator behind Street Fighter and Fatal Fury, is stepping into the ring again, but this time it looks to be a bit more constrained. So, a little bit at odds with his usual flow.

A brand-new boxing game is officially in the works, and it’s being made in collaboration with none other than The Ring—yep, that long-running American boxing magazine. The announcement was dropped by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, who just so happens to have bought The Ring back in November 2024.

So yeah, that’s a sentence you probably didn’t expect to read today.

What We Know So Far

The game is currently untitled, but here’s what’s been confirmed:

  • It’ll feature original characters
  • It combines The Ring’s “unmatched authority in boxing” with Dimps’ deep fighting game legacy.
  • Development is set to begin very soon.

For anyone rusty on their studio names—Dimps is the developer Nishiyama runs. Their most recent release was the Freedom Wars Remaster back in January 2025. And while that was yet another remaster in a sea of re-releases, this boxing title? Totally fresh.

Saudi Arabia, SNK, and the Bigger Picture

There’s some real context to this move. The Saudi royal family has been quietly stacking its chips in the Japanese gaming industry for a while now. Back in April 2024, the Crown Prince’s foundation bought 100% of SNK—yes, that SNK.

The Ring, now owned by the same entertainment authority, even helped promote Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves with a boxing-themed event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London this past April.

Oh, and Nishiyama? He’s the same guy who helped build Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, and King of Fighters back in the 90s. That’s some heavy-hitter cred.

The Real Question: Will It Follow the Rules?

Here’s where things get juicy. Nishiyama’s entire design philosophy has always leaned toward street fighting—you know, chaotic, rule-breaking, wildly exaggerated action! Everything we’ve come to expect from titles of the street fighting genre.  He’s even said in the past that real sports limit creativity. So why go full simulation boxing?

Some fans are scratching their heads over that one. One X user even joked that this is the same guy who made Balrog throw literal buffalo charges in Street Fighter. Not exactly sanctioned in the WBA.

Will this new boxing game follow strict rules? Or are we in for a crazy, rule-breaking fighter in boxing gloves? Bare-knuckle boxing, where there’s a thin line between sportsmanship and carnage? A perfect combo of Boxing and Street Fighter? 

Knowing Nishiyama, we wouldn’t be surprised if the uppercuts hit like Kamehamehas and the ring explodes halfway through the final round. Admittedly, that would be pretty cool to see!

Final Thoughts

So yeah, Street Fighter’s creator is making a boxing game with the most iconic boxing magazine in the world—backed by a global powerhouse with big stakes in Japanese gaming. That’s a lot of layers.

Whether this turns into a realistic boxing sim or a bare-knuckle brawl with anime energy, one thing’s for sure: we’ll be watching.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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