Capcom and SNK Exchange Blows: Chun-Li Enters the Fatal Fury Arena
In a major announcement that thrilled fighting game enthusiasts globally, SNK officially confirmed the inclusion of Chun-Li from Capcom’s Street Fighter series as a guest character in the highly anticipated title, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (FF:CotW). The reveal was accompanied by a dedicated gameplay trailer showcased during the first day of the SNK World Championship, providing fans with a first look at how the iconic character translates into the aggressive, high-speed mechanics of the Fatal Fury universe.
This move solidifies the ongoing collaborative spirit between the two legendary fighting game giants, following SNK’s own Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui joining the roster of Street Fighter 6 in its previous season. The reciprocal guest appearance is a significant moment for the community, bridging two distinct fighting game styles under one banner.
Analyzing Chun-Li’s Moveset in City of the Wolves
The released trailer focused heavily on demonstrating how Chun-Li’s signature style—characterized by rapid kicks and defensive zoning—integrates with the core systems of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. While Street Fighter emphasizes grounded, precise combat, Fatal Fury is known for its aggressive rush-down and unique movement options, particularly the S.W.A.Y. System (Shift-Weight Action System).
Expert analysis of the footage suggests that SNK has meticulously adapted her classic special moves while ensuring she feels native to the Fatal Fury engine:
- Spinning Bird Kick: Her signature aerial attack appears to retain its multi-hit properties, likely serving as a powerful anti-air or a combo finisher. Its implementation seems slightly faster and more aggressive to match the pace of FF:CotW.
- Kikoken: The classic projectile maintains its utility for zoning, though its speed and recovery frames are likely adjusted to fit the Fatal Fury environment, which typically features more tools for projectile evasion.
- Lightning Kicks: The rapid-fire kick sequence is confirmed, appearing to be a key component of her pressure game and combo extensions, particularly when utilizing the game’s Rev and Climax mechanics.
Crucially, her movement seems to incorporate the S.W.A.Y. System—a mechanic unique to Fatal Fury that allows for quick horizontal shifts. This will give Chun-Li unprecedented mobility compared to her traditional Street Fighter appearances, potentially making her a highly versatile character capable of both zoning and aggressive mix-ups.
The Significance of the Guest Character Slot
Guest characters in fighting games serve not just as fan service, but as crucial tests of a game’s engine flexibility. For SNK to successfully translate a character defined by the Street Fighter engine—which uses six buttons and different input timings—into the four-button, line-shifting environment of Fatal Fury demonstrates the robustness and adaptability of the FF:CotW system. This successful integration bodes well for the overall quality and mechanical depth of the final game.
This announcement is the latest chapter in a decades-long friendly rivalry and collaboration between Capcom and SNK, a relationship that has historically defined the fighting game genre. The exchange of characters is a direct nod to the iconic Capcom vs. SNK series of the early 2000s, which remains a benchmark for crossover fighting games.
While the Capcom vs. SNK titles blended the two universes into a single, unified system, recent guest appearances—such as Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui in Street Fighter 6 and now Chun-Li in Fatal Fury—focus on translating the character’s essence into the host game’s native mechanics. This approach ensures that while the character is recognizable, they feel balanced and integral to the host game’s competitive ecosystem.
“The inclusion of Chun-Li is more than just a marketing beat; it’s a celebration of the history of 2D fighting games. It shows mutual respect and a willingness to give fans the dream matchups they’ve been waiting for, all while maintaining the unique feel of the Fatal Fury series.”
Anticipation for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is set to be the first mainline entry in the Fatal Fury series since Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999), making its development one of the most closely watched projects in the fighting game community. The game is expected to retain the classic high-stakes, aggressive gameplay the series is known for, while introducing modern graphical fidelity and new mechanics.
Chun-Li joins an already confirmed roster that includes returning favorites like Rock Howard, Terry Bogard, and Tizoc (known as The Griffon Mask). The full roster size and final release date remain key pieces of information the community is eagerly awaiting.
Key Takeaways for Fighting Game Fans
This reveal at the SNK World Championship confirms a major industry trend: collaboration between major developers to revitalize classic franchises and deliver high-value content to players. Here are the essential points:
- Confirmed Guest: Chun-Li from Street Fighter is officially joining the roster of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
- Reciprocal Crossover: This follows the inclusion of SNK characters in Street Fighter 6, highlighting a strong partnership between Capcom and SNK.
- Gameplay Focus: The trailer demonstrated Chun-Li’s classic moveset (Kikoken, Spinning Bird Kick) adapted to the aggressive, movement-focused S.W.A.Y. System of Fatal Fury.
- Game Status: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is highly anticipated as the first new mainline entry in over two decades, with its release window expected in 2025.
What’s Next for City of the Wolves
With the gameplay trailer now public, attention shifts to the remaining roster announcements and the official release date. Given the high profile of the SNK World Championship announcement, it is highly likely that SNK will continue to release detailed character breakdowns in the coming months, offering deeper dives into the mechanics and competitive viability of both the core cast and guest characters like Chun-Li. Fans should anticipate further reveals concerning the game’s story mode, online features, and potential beta testing phases as the expected 2025 launch approaches.
Original author: Dakota DarkHorse Hills
Originally published: October 31, 2025
Editorial note: Our team reviewed and enhanced this coverage with AI-assisted tools and human editing to add helpful context while preserving verified facts and quotations from the original source.
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