In one of the most surprising marketing moves in fighting game history,Cristiano Ronaldo will be a fully-fledged playable character in the upcoming Fatal Fury game.This collaboration was teased a couple of months ago, which had many speculating that the famous soccer star might be a real fighter. Albeit, most were saying so for a laugh. Now it seems truth is stranger than fiction and the world of Fatal Fury will have more eyes on it than ever.
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The full reveal, which showcases some of Ronaldo’s gameplay, is available to watch on YouTube:
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It’s worth noting that while Ronaldo is in the game, he will be voiced by Juan Fillipe Sierra. This isn’t too surprising, as making a celebrity of Ronaldo’s caliber a voice actor would have its own hurdles in the long run.This would probably include having additional voice lines interacting with other characters that will be added to the game later down the line, such as the future guest fighters from the Street Fighter franchise.This is generally the case with famous individuals lending their own likeness to video games, especially those that will have continuous updates for years. It does cause some to question why the developers would go through the effort in the first place and how this partnership even came about in the first place.
As to why, there’s the obvious media attention that the game will garner just by having Ronaldo’s name attached to it.Globally, Ronaldo is one of the most famous figures in the world of soccer and is recognized as an icon in the sport.Curiosity, if nothing else, will surely make some check out the game just to play as him. This will prove especially true in Latin American countries, where Ronaldo is a household name, but also the home of SNK’s most loyal fans. SNK titles have a good legacy in the Spanish-speaking world, harking back to the days of Neo-Geo arcade cabinets. While some may find this mixture bizarre, there is overlap.
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A more probable cause, however, is SNK’s ties to Saudi Arabia. SNK’s is primarily owned by the Misk Foundation, a company owned by the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since then, SNK products have steadily grown in popularity within the country. Fatal Fury will be one of the many titles featured at the Esports World Cup this year in Riyadh. Ronaldo, who has been playing professionally in Saudi Arabia for a few years now, was a featured attendee of 2024’s World Cup. While this may not be the given reason, it’s easy to see how everything lines up.
Now it seems truth is stranger than fiction, and the world of Fatal Fury will have more eyes on it than ever.
Some are more accepting of this collaboration and are amused by it as an oddity; others have mixed feelings about utilizing a well-known public figure to promote the game. Fatal Fury will be hosting its second open beta this week, and this announcement will likely attract more players to it. With the game set to release in full next month, it remains to be seen what other surprises SNK may have in store.
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