SNK Criticized for AI Use in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves S2

The revival of SNK’s legendary fighting franchise, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (CotW), has stumbled into a fresh controversy. Just months after its 2025 release, the game is facing severe backlash following the release of a trailer for its upcoming second season. Fans and community members are accusing the developer of using generative AI assets, labeling the promotional material as "slop" that clashes with the game's established art style. On Thursday, SNK released a promotional video outlining the roadmap for City of the Wolves Season 2, which is scheduled to launch on Jan 22. 

The season promises a robust lineup of returning veterans, including Kim Jae Hoon, Nightmare Geese, Blue Mary, and Wolfgang Krauser, released monthly over six months. However, the reveal was quickly overshadowed by eagle-eyed fans who spotted inconsistencies in the trailer’s visuals. Critics pointed to background shots of city skylines featuring nonsensical window patterns and character introduction clips that appeared visually distinct from the game's vibrant, cel-shaded aesthetic.

Community Outrage and Resignations

“All that Saudi money and can't pay someone a couple bucks to make real shit," YouTube commenter willthelemon5681 wrote, highlighting that the "false sense of edginess" provided by the alleged AI clips looked "corny" when juxtaposed with the actual gameplay. The reaction was swift and severe, extending beyond social media complaints to the game's official community channels. A moderator for the official Fatal Fury Discord server announced their resignation in direct response to the trailer.

“I’m stepping down after this trailer,” the moderator wrote. “I’m thankful for what you guys did for us and all, but this is too much for me to deal with, this is against what I stand for.” This is not the first time City of the Wolves has faced scrutiny regarding its creative and business decisions. The game’s development has been shadowed by SNK’s acquisition by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2022.  

Critics cited the ownership as a case of "sportswashing", a sentiment that deepened when Al-Nassr FC star Cristiano Ronaldo was added to the game as a playable character post-launch. Despite the game winning "Best Fighting Game" at the recent Game Awards, the integration of what appears to be low-effort generative AI has reignited concerns about the publisher's direction.

The backlash comes at a critical time for the Saudi Public Investment Fund's gaming ambitions. The sovereign wealth fund is currently on track to finalize its acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by the end of the summer, a massive consolidation that will further entrench its influence in the global video game market, as reported by Kotaku. As of now, SNK has not issued an official response to the allegations regarding the use of AI in the Season 2 trailer.