A trailer released on the SNK OFFICIAL YouTube channel has announced Cristiano Ronaldo as a new playable character in the upcoming FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar will, predictably, have a fighting style that revolves around a football. His iconic SIUUUU cheer will also be in the game.
Early reactions in fighting game forums have been largely negative, with some fans complaining about the character’s lackluster moveset. Many have also expressed a dislike for the character’s design, deeming it out-of-place and inconsistent with the game’s visuals.
The reveal has many fighting game fans scratching their heads, but if you look at the circumstances behind the decision, you can piece together a sort of logic. In 2020, SNK was acquired by the MiSK Foundation, a non-profit owned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, the richest football club in Saudi Arabia, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by the Saudi Crown Prince.
This isn’t Saudi Arabia’s first foray into gaming. The Kingdom of Saudia Arabia has been investing heavily into video games and esports since the COVID pandemic. In 2022, the PIF bought ESL (the Electronic Sports League), one of the biggest brands in professional gaming. PIF also owns stakes in Nintendo, Capcom, Koei Tecmo, Electronic Arts, Nexon, Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard.
Cristiano’s full in-game move set has also been released and is available on the SNK website.
