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

Despite Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada's long-held dream, a Colonel Sanders appearance in the Tekken franchise remains elusive. Even his persistent efforts have been thwarted.

Harada's Colonel Sanders x Tekken Request Rejected by KFC and His Own Team

Even Harada's Bosses Said No

For years, Harada has publicly championed the idea of Colonel Sanders, KFC's iconic mascot, joining the Tekken roster. However, in a recent interview with The Gamer, he revealed that both KFC and his own superiors have rejected his proposal. He recounted personally reaching out to KFC's Japanese headquarters, only to be met with resistance.

This isn't a new desire; Harada previously expressed his wish for a KFC crossover on his YouTube channel. He described the rejection as receiving a "bad look," dashing his hopes for a Tekken 8 appearance.

Game designer Michael Murray elaborated on the situation, stating that KFC was "not very open to the idea," despite Colonel Sanders' appearances in other games. He highlighted the inherent difficulties in securing such crossovers.

Harada previously admitted to "dreaming about" including Colonel Sanders, even outlining a well-developed concept with Director Ikeda. He believed it would be "really brilliant," but KFC's marketing department deemed it unpopular with players, leading to consistent rejection. Harada concluded his comments with a direct appeal: "So if anyone from KFC reads this interview, please contact me!"

The Tekken franchise boasts impressive guest characters, including Akuma (Street Fighter), Noctis (Final Fantasy), and Negan (The Walking Dead). However, Harada's ambitions extend beyond Colonel Sanders; he also considered a Waffle House crossover, but acknowledged its infeasibility. Despite these setbacks, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.