FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves has become the latest title to join the line-up for the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup.
The new fighting game — set to launch later this year — joins the growing list of esports tournaments taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this year.
The inclusion of FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves at the Esports World Cup is the result of the Esports World Cup Foundation, the organisers of the event, securing a three-year deal with the game’s developer SNK Corporation.
FATAL FURY was first released in 1991, with its last release launching in 1999. 26 years later, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves will be released in April. The game’s inclusion in the Esports World Cup aims to foster ‘the game’s global growth.’
“This partnership marks a historic milestone for FATAL FURY, a title loved around the world for 30 years, as it steps into the competitive gaming arena,” says Kenji Matsubara, CEO of SNK Corporation.
“The Esports World Cup provides the perfect platform to showcase the franchise’s enduring legacy while engaging a new generation of fans, including those watching the great fights live in Riyadh arenas and on screens around the world.”
The Esports World Cup in 2025
The addition of FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves takes the total number of games announced for the 2025 Esports World Cup to 17.
Alongside the fighting game, the event will also feature competitions in Crossfire, EA Sports FC 25, Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and many more.
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves isn’t the only fighting game tournament taking place in Riyadh this year. Street Fighter 6 will also host a competition.
Esports World Cup also teased in a release that more titles will be revealed ‘in the coming weeks’.
For 2025, the Esports World Cup Foundation has expanded its partner programme to 40 organisations. The programme includes $20m (~£ 15.6m) in funding that aims to help teams expand into titles ahead of the competition.
Despite the objective to improve long-term growth within the esports industry, the Esports World Cup Foundation continues to generate controversy from the community due to the support of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
In recent years, debates surrounding the country’s human rights record have remained as the Kingdom looks to expand its presence across sports and entertainment.