Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style was originally titled "Thrill Kill", but development was soon cancelled due to EA acquiring Virgin Interactive. Electronic Arts' decision to cancel the game is somewhat reflective of their ethics in the 1990s, as they largely focused on family-friendly audiences at the time. Various publishers were interested in the Thrill Kill IP, but EA declined all offers except Activision's, so long as they agreed to green-light a fighting game idea based on the rap group the Wu-Tang Clan.