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

Colonel Sanders in Tekken? A dream dashed, according to series director Katsuhiro Harada, despite years of hopeful envisioning.

Harada's Colonel Sanders x Tekken Request Rejected by KFC

Even Harada's Bosses Said No

The iconic Colonel Sanders, KFC's mascot, has long been a character Harada envisioned in the Tekken universe. However, a recent interview revealed that both KFC and Harada's own superiors rejected the idea. "A long time ago, I wanted Colonel Sanders from Kentucky Fried Chicken to fight," Harada told The Gamer. "I even contacted their Japanese headquarters."

This isn't the first time Harada's expressed this desire; he previously mentioned it on his YouTube channel, adding that his proposal was met with disapproval. So, for now, a Tekken x KFC crossover remains firmly off the menu.

Game designer Michael Murray elaborated on Harada's interactions with KFC, stating that while Harada reached out personally, KFC was "not very open to the idea." Murray added, "Colonel Sanders has appeared in other games since then, so maybe it was the specific opponent [in Harada's proposal] that posed a problem. It highlights just how challenging these collaborations can be."

Harada has previously stated his dream of including Colonel Sanders in Tekken, even outlining specific ideas with Director Ikeda. He believed it could be "really brilliant," but KFC's marketing department apparently disagreed, fearing negative player reception. Harada concluded with a plea: "Everyone advises us against it. So, if anyone from KFC is reading this, please contact me!"

The Tekken franchise has successfully incorporated surprising guest characters, including Akuma from Street Fighter, Final Fantasy's Noctis, and even The Walking Dead's Negan. However, beyond Colonel Sanders, Harada also considered a Waffle House crossover, another unlikely prospect. Regarding fan requests for Waffle House, Harada admitted, "It's not something we can accomplish alone." Despite this setback, fans can anticipate the return of Heihachi Mishima as the game's third DLC character.