SNK might have just spoiled its own surprise. A promotional video celebrating Chun-Li’s arrival in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves ended with a splash screen showing December 9 as Mr. Big’s release date. The problem is that Mr. Big wasn’t supposed to arrive until early 2026. The video disappeared from all official SNK channels shortly after fans spotted the date, but the internet never forgets.
This potential leak has the Fatal Fury community buzzing because it would dramatically accelerate SNK’s DLC rollout schedule. If December 9 is accurate, the company would be delivering three DLC characters in consecutive months, Joe Higashi in October, Chun-Li in November, and Mr. Big in December. That’s an aggressive content drop schedule that nobody saw coming.
What Happened in the Video
The leaked date appeared at the end of a music video promoting Chun-Li’s recent addition to the game. SNK has been creating promotional content for each DLC character, and these videos typically showcase the fighter’s moves, personality, and how they fit into the City of the Wolves universe. The Chun-Li video followed this format perfectly until the final moments.
The closing splash screen displayed all the Season Pass 1 DLC characters released so far, with their respective launch dates. Then it showed Mr. Big with the text “December 9” next to his name. For fans familiar with SNK’s original timeline stating “Early 2026” for Mr. Big’s release, this was immediately suspicious.
Within hours of the video going live, it vanished from YouTube and every other official SNK platform. That rapid removal suggests someone at the company realized they’d revealed information ahead of schedule. If the December date was completely fake or an error, there would be less urgency to scrub it from the internet.
The Original Release Schedule
When SNK announced Season Pass 1 for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves back in April 2025, they laid out a clear roadmap for the five DLC characters. Andy Bogard launched in summer 2025, specifically on June 24. Ken Masters from Street Fighter was also scheduled for summer 2025. Joe Higashi arrived in fall 2025, specifically in October. Chun-Li hit the roster in winter 2025, dropping on November 4.
That left Mr. Big as the final character with a vague “Early 2026” release window. Most fans interpreted that as January through March 2026, giving SNK breathing room between the rapid-fire character releases and allowing time for polish and marketing. A December 9 launch would compress that entire timeline and deliver all five Season Pass 1 characters within roughly six months of the game’s April 24 launch.
Why This Schedule Makes Sense
From a business perspective, getting all Season Pass 1 content out before 2026 has advantages. It allows SNK to start fresh with Season Pass 2 announcements in the new year, maintaining momentum and giving players reasons to keep coming back. The fighting game community tends to stick with titles that receive consistent content updates, and delivering on all promised DLC quickly demonstrates commitment to supporting the game long-term.
The accelerated timeline also means players who purchased the Special Edition, which bundles the base game with Season Pass 1, get their full value faster. SNK made the unusual decision not to sell Season Pass 1 separately from the base game at launch, meaning every purchaser is essentially waiting on the same content drops. Delivering that content ahead of schedule is generally good customer relations.
Additionally, December is a strong release window. The holiday season brings more players, more time for gaming, and more potential buyers. Dropping a highly anticipated character like Mr. Big during this window capitalizes on increased player engagement and could boost sales of the Special Edition.
Who Is Mr. Big Anyway
For players new to SNK’s fighting game history, Mr. Big is a classic villain from Art of Fighting, another franchise in the company’s roster. He’s a crime boss who operates in South Town, the same setting as Fatal Fury. His fighting style combines powerful strikes with his signature rattan sticks, giving him long reach and devastating combos.
Mr. Big hasn’t appeared as a playable character in many recent SNK games, making his inclusion in City of the Wolves noteworthy. He represents the company’s willingness to pull from its deep catalog of characters rather than just recycling the same popular faces. His moveset typically emphasizes mid-range control and punishing opponents who try to approach carelessly.
SNK’s Radio Silence
As of now, SNK hasn’t issued any official statement about the leaked date or the removed video. That silence is telling. If December 9 was completely wrong, you’d expect a quick clarification to avoid disappointing fans. If it was accurate but premature, staying quiet until the planned announcement makes more strategic sense.
The rapid removal of the video suggests someone hit the panic button after realizing the mistake. These things happen in marketing departments, especially when multiple teams handle different aspects of promotional campaigns. A video editor might have received outdated or preliminary materials, someone might have confused internal planning dates with public announcements, or there could have been a miscommunication about what information was cleared for release.
What This Means for Players
If you purchased Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Special Edition, you’re probably excited about the possibility of getting Mr. Big a month or two earlier than expected. The game launched on April 24, 2025, and has received generally positive reception from the fighting game community, though reviews have been somewhat mixed compared to other major fighters.
The steady stream of DLC characters has helped maintain player interest. Andy Bogard brought back a fan-favorite Fatal Fury character. Ken and Chun-Li from Street Fighter attracted crossover appeal from that franchise’s massive fanbase. Joe Higashi completed the original Fatal Fury trio alongside Terry and Andy. Mr. Big represents the final piece of Season Pass 1 and brings a villain character to balance out the roster.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The game requires an internet connection to access all content, and the PS4 version can be upgraded to the PS5 version for free.
Should You Believe the Leak
The evidence suggests this leak is probably legitimate. The date appeared in official SNK marketing materials, not some random rumor or unverified social media post. The company’s decision to quickly remove the video rather than leave it up with a correction indicates they’re treating this as sensitive information.
That said, nothing is confirmed until SNK makes an official announcement. Plans can change, especially in game development where unexpected issues can delay releases. December 9 might have been the target date when the video was created, but technical problems, quality concerns, or other factors could still push Mr. Big back to his original early 2026 window.
The smart approach is to treat December 9 as a strong possibility but not a guarantee. If SNK doesn’t make an official announcement by late November, that might signal the date isn’t accurate or has changed. Fighting game fans are used to delays and date changes, so a little patience goes a long way.
FAQs
When is Mr. Big supposed to release for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves?
Originally, SNK announced Mr. Big would arrive in early 2026. However, a leaked promotional video showed December 9, 2025, as his release date before SNK quickly removed the video from all official channels.
Has SNK confirmed the December 9 release date for Mr. Big?
No, SNK has not made any official statement confirming or denying the December 9 date. The company removed the video that showed the date but hasn’t addressed the leak publicly.
Who are the other DLC characters in Season Pass 1?
Season Pass 1 includes Andy Bogard (released June 24), Ken Masters from Street Fighter (summer 2025), Joe Higashi (October 2025), Chun-Li from Street Fighter (November 4), and Mr. Big as the final character.
Can I buy Season Pass 1 separately?
No, SNK has stated there are no plans to sell the base game and Season Pass 1 separately. You need to purchase Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Special Edition, which includes both the base game and Season Pass 1 for $59.99.
What platforms is Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves available on?
The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The PS4 version can be upgraded to PS5 for free.
Who is Mr. Big in the Fatal Fury universe?
Mr. Big is a crime boss character from Art of Fighting who also appears in the Fatal Fury series. He fights using rattan sticks and is known for his powerful strikes and mid-range control.
Why did SNK remove the video?
SNK hasn’t explained why they removed the video, but the rapid deletion suggests the December 9 date for Mr. Big was revealed prematurely before an official announcement was planned.
Conclusion
The accidental leak of Mr. Big’s December 9 release date has given Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves fans something to get excited about. If accurate, it means SNK is delivering its promised DLC content significantly faster than originally announced, which is always welcome in the fighting game community where consistent updates keep players engaged.
Whether the date holds or gets pushed back to the original early 2026 window remains to be seen. The evidence strongly suggests December 9 was at least the internal target date when the promotional materials were created. SNK’s quick removal of the video indicates they’re taking the leak seriously, which usually means the information was accurate even if it wasn’t ready for public consumption.
For now, Fatal Fury fans can enjoy Chun-Li’s recent addition to the roster while keeping their eyes peeled for an official Mr. Big announcement. If December 9 is real, we’ll probably hear something official from SNK within the next few weeks as they prepare marketing materials and build hype for the final Season Pass 1 character. And if you haven’t jumped into City of the Wolves yet, knowing that all the DLC might arrive ahead of schedule could be the push you need to grab that Special Edition.