Virtual fighters from all over the world call the Tekken franchise home, and now the game is getting some Middle Eastern representation in the form of the new Tekken 7 character, Shaheen.
Tekken 7 director Katsuhiro Harada recently revealed the character via Twitter.
NEW CHARACTER for TEKKEN 7. "Shaheen" from Saudi Arabia. 鉄拳7新キャラ(のひとり）「シャヒーン（サウジアラビア）」公開。 We've more new characters. https://t.co/cPggBVY6hy
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) January 1, 2015
Shaheen comes from Saudi Arabia and in many ways looks to be the spitting image of a Middle Eastern stereotype. That's a little disappointing, but it is at least a step forward to have a Middle Eastern character fighting in the King of Iron Fist tournament in the first place. And no, he probably never uses that awesome looking sword on his hip. This isn't Soul Calibur. Here's a better look at Shaheen.
Harada previously teased Shaheen's inclusion when he polled Tekken fans about the possibility of a Middle Eastern character, presumably because Tekken is a popular franchise in the region. So far reactions seem to be positive.
Shaheen is proving far less controversial than Tekken 7's previously revealed new character, Lucky Chloe. The Japanese girl's cutesy nature and cat costume rubbed some vocal American fans the wrong way, prompting Harada to say the character might not even appear in the American version of Tekken 7. Tekken 7 is slated to hit Japanese arcades later this year, with an American console release presumed to follow.
