There have been many weird guest characters in fighting games, but Cristiano Ronaldo in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is, without a doubt, the strangest. Today, SNK revealed the first glimpse of his gameplay.
In the first trailer we don’t get to see much, as it mostly focuses on the real footballer, with only a small glimpse at his (frankly fairly bland compared to the great character designs of the rest of the cast) character models and moves.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that his fighting style includes a soccer ball. He’ll be part of the initial roster of the game.
You can check it out for yourself in the trailer below, and join me in wondering just why (besides publicity) SNK decided to include a real-world footballer in one of the fighting game series with the most esoteric and interesting storylines in the genre.
I suppose we’ll have to see what’ll happen when the game releases, but I’ll likely just pretend he isn’t there.
The second trailer showcases a more extensive look at Ronaldo’s gameplay.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will release on April 24, 2025, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a brand-new fighting game and the sequel to the old and glorious Fatal Fury series, known in Japan as Garou Densetsu (Legend of the Hungry Wolf).
The franchise, which spanned the Neo Geo era before going dormant, is known and loved by many fans not only for its gameplay but also for its intricate storytelling and interesting characters.
If you’d like to see more, we recently saw the reveal of Gato, Marco Rodrigues, and Kain R. Heinlein, on top of the theme song. The game will also appear at the Esports World Cup 2025.