Tekken with Colonel Sanders? No, But Not For a Lack of Trying

Despite Katsuhiro Harada, Tekken series director, having envisioned a Colonel Sanders cameo for years, it remains unrealized. This is due to rejection from both KFC and Harada's superiors, as revealed in a recent interview with The Gamer.

Harada's proposal to KFC's Japanese headquarters was unsuccessful. He previously expressed his desire for the Colonel as a guest fighter on his YouTube channel, only to be met with disapproval. This dashed hopes for a Tekken 8 crossover, at least for the foreseeable future.

Game designer Michael Murray elaborated, stating KFC was unenthusiastic about the idea, possibly due to concerns about the Colonel's portrayal in a fighting game. This highlights the complexities of such collaborations.

Harada and Director Ikeda had a fully developed concept, confident in its potential success, but KFC's marketing department deemed it unappealing to players. Despite numerous setbacks, Harada publicly appeals to KFC for reconsideration.

Tekken's history includes successful crossovers with characters like Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead). However, Harada's aspirations for a Waffle House crossover also appear unlikely, due to external limitations. Despite the Colonel Sanders setback, fans can anticipate Heihachi Mishima's return as the game's third DLC character.