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, according to Harada, is due to rejection from both KFC and his own superiors.

Harada's Proposal Rejected

Harada's attempts to secure Colonel Sanders for Tekken, including direct contact with KFC Japan, proved unsuccessful. KFC, according to an interview with The Gamer, was not receptive to the idea. This rejection, coupled with internal disapproval, dashed Harada's hopes. He even described receiving disapproving glances when his proposal was denied. Therefore, a Tekken 8 KFC crossover is currently improbable.

Game designer Michael Murray elaborated on the unsuccessful negotiations, highlighting the challenges involved in securing such crossovers. He suggested that the prospect of Colonel Sanders engaging in combat might have been a key obstacle.

Harada previously expressed his strong desire to include Colonel Sanders, even detailing a well-developed concept with Director Ikeda. He believed the inclusion would be a resounding success, but KFC's marketing department remained unconvinced, fearing negative player reception. Harada publicly appealed for KFC to reconsider.

Other Crossover Attempts

While the Colonel Sanders collaboration failed, Tekken has successfully featured crossovers with characters like Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead). However, Harada's ambition extended to another food chain, Waffle House, but that too appears unlikely due to logistical constraints. Despite these setbacks, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.