Cristiano Ronaldo Joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Game in 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Enters the Arena: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Gaming Move
After two decades of silence, the Fatal Fury Fighting Game franchise came back to life. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was released on April 24, 2025, by a Japanese video game publisher, SNK. It was the first release in the series since 1999. The fans were excited until a major announcement sent the thrill to shock.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a football superstar known all over the globe, would really be playable in the game, said SNK. Shortly thereafter, a second dream character was added to the lineup Salvatore Ganacci, a Bosnia Swedish DJ known for his weird shows. If anything, many fans of the classic 2D fighter felt this was out of character. however, it was far beyond gaming. It was about global outreach, strategic investment and national branding.
All Round Saudi Ownership Uncovering the Horse
What appeared to be a strange crossover was indeed quite integral to Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in sports and entertainment. Through the MiSK Foundation, a charitable organization launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia today holds 96% of SNK. Such a major stake gives the Kingdom unrivaled control over the company.
Not just a marketing gimmick, Ronaldo’s involvement in the game says something about how he currently plays for Al Nassr, a club in the Saudi Pro League owned by the royal family. In a similar fashion, Ganacci has appeared at events sponsored by Saudi, thus making both of their appearances part of a wider calculation.
Vision 2030 and the Bigger Picture
This is along the lines of Saudi Vision 2030 an ambitious plan to diversify the economy by investing in non oil fields like sports, entertainment and gaming. According to Kristin Diwan, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, the Kingdom is working to expand into creative areas in order to change its image and attract interest on the global stage.
The inclusion of celebrity global figures like Ronaldo is already part of this rebranding drive. And it has actually been somewhat successful.
A Double Edged Sword
The content creator Michael Townsend (Rooflemonger in the gaming community) claims Ronaldo’s pulling power has attracted new players to the game. “I have already seen people who would never have shown any interest in the game say simply that because their favorite player is in it, they have to buy the game,” notes Townsend.
Others, though, are uneasy with the direction in which SNK is headed.
Tanner J. runs a blog called Them’s Fighting Words and he sees a moral quandary in endorsing a game so closely tied to Saudi Arabia’s political interests. He mentions the Kingdom’s dismal human rights record, the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (which the U.S. intelligence directly links to Mohammed bin Salman) and several other high profile human rights violations. Tanner further expresses concern for the LGBTQ+ community, stating that same sex relationships are punishable under Saudi law. He also wondered Ronaldo’s ability to help the kingdom’s image contextually due to prior rape allegations, even though Ronaldo denies any wrongdoing and no charges were filed.
“As much as ‘betrayal’ could come into play when one thinks about this particular project,” Tanner said.
But he stops short with an actual boycott, explaining, “I don’t believe necessarily that consuming the product itself is an endorsement of the Saudi Arabian project.”
The Dilemma for Fans
Thus, many fans are left marred by the love of the franchise and the distrust of the commercial investors behind it. For instance, Townsend states that his love for Fatal Fury is still intact:
“The games are still the games to me. Maybe the people at the top are different but I’m still here for the games I loved growing up.”
For now, SNK, the MiSK Foundation and representatives for Cristiano Ronaldo have stayed silent on the decision to feature him in the game.
Conclusion
Thus, it is not only a game comeback but also a study of how politics, entertainment and global branding intertwine. In this manner, Saudi Arabia’s investments through SNK and Vision 2030 have transformed what used to be a pure Japanese gaming franchise into a global soft power representation. It is with star power that the likes of Ronaldo are now bringing the game attention far beyond the fighting game community even as the legitimate debates rage within concerning ethics, ownership and image making in modern entertainment.
