Tekken Tried to Secure KFC’s Colonel Sanders as a Guest Fighter

by

Tekken Tried to Secure KFC's Colonel Sanders as a Guest Fighter

Key Takeaways

  • The Tekken series once sought to add KFC mascot Colonel Sanders as a guest fighter.
  • Tekken has included special guests from franchises like Final Fantasy, The Walking Dead, and Street Fighter.
  • Director Katsuhiro Harada revealed that he attempted to bring Colonel Sanders to Tekken, but was quickly shut down by KFC.

As a longtime Tekken enthusiast who has followed the series since its humble beginnings, I must say that the idea of Colonel Sanders from KFC joining the roster of Tekken characters is one that still brings a chuckle to my heart. The thought of this iconic figure, known for his fried chicken empire, exchanging fisticuffs with the likes of Heihachi Mishima or Kazuya Mishima, is simply too absurd not to find amusing.

The Tekken franchise has had its share of unexpected guest characters, and it’s interesting to note that its long-time director, Katsuhiro Harada, attempted to secure the rights to include the iconic KFC mascot, Colonel Sanders, in the series. This year saw a revival for Tekken with the release of Tekken 8, which garnered considerable acclaim for its compelling storyline, graphics, and more dynamic martial arts combat style.

Prior to the launch of Tekken 8 in January, the series occasionally introduced special guest characters, but not to the same extent as games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Tekken 7 in 2015 stood out for its DLC combatants, with unexpected entrants such as Geese Howard from Fatal Fury, Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy 15, Negan from The Walking Dead, and Akuma from Street Fighter, who even appeared in Tekken 7’s story mode. Some believe that Tekken 8 may follow suit with its own DLC characters, although no guest characters have been announced as of yet.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m always on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating potential surprises like Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7 gracing the roster of Tekken 8. Recently, Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada shared an intriguing tidbit about a past attempt to bring Colonel Sanders into the Tekken universe. In an interview with TheGamer, he revealed his efforts to secure the rights for the fried chicken mascot from KFC, even visiting their office in Japan. Unfortunately, KFC wasn’t too keen on the idea and gave him a less-than-encouraging response. My colleague, Tekken 8 game designer Michael Murray, corroborated this story, suggesting that perhaps KFC’s denial stemmed from the concept of Colonel Sanders engaging in combat.

Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada Wanted To Have Colonel Sanders as a Guest Fighter

KFC might not be the first thing casual audiences associate with gaming, but the popular fried chicken brand has made some surprising promotional efforts in recent years. From tie-ins to existing games like Diablo 4 and Genshin Impact to mock consoles and dating simulators where Colonel Sanders could go out with Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village, KFC and its mascot have become something of a meme in the gaming world. More recently, the Colonel appeared in plastic form as a playable character in Funko Fusion, complete with a chicken-launching bucket cannon.

In an alternate reality, Colonel Sanders from KFC might have expanded his gaming portfolio by joining the cast of Tekken, dishing out his original recipe moves against characters like Heihachi Mishima and Bryan Fury. However, this idea never materialized as KFC declined Katsuhiro Harada’s suggestion to incorporate their mascot into the ongoing Tekken series. It’s possible that Harada could find success by introducing a Waffle House-themed stage in Tekken 8, but fans may want to be cautious about expecting any culinary-based content in the near future.

Read More

2024-09-30 20:23