Sleeping Dogs, an open-world cop-drama being published this year by Square-Enix London and developed by United Front Games, is brutal. Watching the title from afar at last weekend’s PAX East convention, I saw a fair share of blood flying, heads getting busted, and thugs in general being tackled about as if they were playing in the St. Louis Rams backfield. This is an experience that may be uncommon for many, but for MMA fighter George St. Pierre, a former World Champion with a knack for laying out opponents, this practice is routine. It is perhaps because of this fact that Square-Enix will be collaborating with St. Pierre over much of the game’s visceral content.

Lee Singleton, general manager of Square-Enix London Studios, professed great joy and admiration in speaking about the upcoming partnership of one of the industry’s most iconic studios with one of MMA’s most iconic figures. “When it comes to professional fighting, names don’t get much bigger than GSP. We are thrilled with the expertise that GSP brings to Sleeping Dogs.” St. Pierre’s contribution to the game will largely focus around its combat but will also extend to various other elements of the title.

The gritty reality found in Sleeping Dogs is a natural fit for the accomplished fighter; situations encountered in the title rapidly unfold into elaborate shootouts with some of Hong Kong’s most notorious criminals, and then, as the battles progress, distance between the protagonist and his nemeses lessens to the point that fists begin flying and bones begin snapping. St. Pierre, a man that is certainly no stranger to the impact of hands against flesh, is more than impressed by what he has seen so far in his time with Square-Enix. “Working with Square Enix has been an incredible opportunity…I’m really impressed to see how the hand-to-hand combat in the game is shaping up – it’s been a great experience being involved.”

Whether or not this intriguing partnership pans out is a fact that will have to wait to be seen until later this year when Sleeping Dogs launches in North America for PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360.

[Square-Enix]