Cristiano Ronaldo will make his debut as a playable character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, the next title in the SNK franchise. The Japanese developer confirmed the news and released a presentation video of the athlete , who appears in the bustling streets of South Town. The game is scheduled for release on April 24, 2025, and will be available for PC and next-generation consoles.
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The presence of the Portuguese star marks one of the most unexpected collaborations between football and video games. With a career marked by titles, Cristiano now joins a universe dominated by fighters and arcade characters. Thus, the choice of the star reinforces SNK's strategy of bringing the new generation of players closer to elements of pop and sports culture.
Cristiano Ronaldo joining the squad expands the franchise's global appeal
Considered one of the greatest names in world football, Cristiano Ronaldo has accumulated over 900 goals and dozens of achievements, including five Champions League titles and a European Championship with the Portuguese national team. Furthermore, he is also the only player to score in five consecutive World Cups, in addition to having won five Ballon d'Or awards. By incorporating him into the City of the Wolves roster, SNK is betting on the player's global reach to attract audiences outside the fighting game niche.
The developer has not yet revealed details about the new character's moves, attacks, or abilities. However, the announcement has already made an impact among fans of the franchise, which hasn't received a new title since Garou: Mark of the Wolves, released in 1999. The presence of the number 7 in the roster promises to shake up the competitive scene and increase interest in the game among sports fans.
Open beta enters new phase with Tizoc and training mode
In addition to revealing Cristiano Ronaldo, SNK announced the second phase of the City of the Wolves Open Beta Test, which will take place between March 27th and 31st. During this period, players will be able to try the game for free on platforms such as Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The new test will include the debut of the fighter Tizoc and the addition of Training Mode, fulfilling community requests for practice and improvement features.
All characters and modes from the first test return in this new round, thus offering the most complete opportunity to test the combat system. Access to the beta version requires an internet connection, and the times follow Brasília time, starting at 2 AM on the 27th and ending at 5 AM on the 31st.
City of the Wolves recaptures the nostalgia of arcades with a modern style
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is the latest chapter in the legendary series that originated in 1991, during the heyday of fighting games in arcades. The title promises to maintain the essence of the franchise, but with a revamped visual aesthetic and new gameplay systems, such as the innovative REV System. In addition, the game will also offer two distinct control modes, which should make it easier for beginners to adapt and please veterans of the series.
Pre-orders for the Special Edition began in August 2024 and include Season Pass 1, with access to additional characters until 2026. The game will be released for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Owners of the physical PS4 version will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version for free, provided they have a console with a disc drive.