Katsuhiro Harada, the director of the Tekken series, once seriously considered introducing Colonel Sanders into the famous fighting game. In an interview with TheGamer, Harada shared that he proposed this idea to KFC Japan, aiming to include the fast-food icon as a guest fighter. Sadly, the concept did not advance beyond initial discussions, as both KFC and even Harada's superiors were not receptive to the proposal.
KFC's Stance on the Collaboration
Game designer Michael Murray elaborated that KFC was not interested in having Colonel Sanders trade his chicken bucket for a fighting move. He suggested that the primary concern was that Tekken is fundamentally a fighting game. While KFC has allowed Sanders to participate in other unconventional projects, such as the quirky dating simulator I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin' Good Dating Simulator, a brawler seemed to be too extreme for their brand.
Impact on Future Collaborations
Harada mentioned that this rejection also dampens any hopes fans might have for other unusual requests, like the popular demand for a Waffle House stage. He explained that establishing these kinds of partnerships involves navigating complex corporate discussions. For the time being, fans will have to make do with the actual character lineup in Tekken 8, which includes the return of Heihachi Mishima.
