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. Harada's attempts to secure the KFC mascot's inclusion have been thwarted, not only by KFC itself, but also by his own superiors.

Harada's Colonel Sanders x Tekken Dream Rejected

Internal and External Obstacles

Harada's long-held desire to feature Colonel Sanders in the Tekken franchise has met with resistance from both KFC and Bandai Namco. In a recent interview with The Gamer, Harada revealed his past attempts to secure the rights, including contacting KFC's Japanese headquarters. This isn't the first time Harada has publicly expressed his interest; he previously discussed the idea on his YouTube channel. His proposals, however, were met with disapproval, leaving fans without hope of a Tekken 8 KFC crossover anytime soon.

Game designer Michael Murray elaborated on Harada's unsuccessful negotiations with KFC, stating that the company wasn't receptive to the idea. He speculated that the potential conflict of having Colonel Sanders fight might have been a deterrent. The experience highlights the challenges involved in securing such collaborations.

Harada previously admitted his desire to include Colonel Sanders, even stating that he and Director Ikeda had developed a compelling concept for the character. Despite their confidence in creating a successful implementation, KFC's marketing department reportedly feared a negative player response, effectively vetoing the idea. Harada concluded his comments with a public plea to KFC, urging them to reconsider.

The Tekken franchise has a history of successful guest character crossovers, including Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead). However, Harada's ambition to include Colonel Sanders, and even a Waffle House representative, appears to be a bridge too far, at least for now. He acknowledged the limitations in achieving these collaborations independently. Nevertheless, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.