10 Crazy Celebrity Cameos In Video Games You Forgot About

2. Michael Jackson - Space Channel 5

Space Channel 5 Michael Jackson
Sega

Okay, so, either you knew this one already and it’s burned into your brain or I’m about to tell you about it and you’ll never forget it so it doesn't really fit with the title of this piece, but let’s talk Michael Jackson’s bizarre game cameo.

The Beat It singer actually reached out to developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi when rhythm game Space Channel 5 was almost finished to ask if he could be in it. Naturally the team jumped on the opportunity and Michael Jackson was featured in the sequel as Space Michael, the chief of Space Channel 5 and ally against the evil Rhythm Rogues. This is a bunch of polygons you do not want to miss. It’s somehow spectacularly weird, entrancing, and fantastic all at once. Weirdly, that same year the pop megastar would also lend his voice and mo-capped self to the fighting game Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2.

Man, they just do not make video games like they used to.

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Contributor
Contributor

Jess has been a journalist and content creator in the games industry for over 15 years and has been WhatCulture's resident Australian import and sorry cop since 2020, upping the quotient of swearing and apologising in WhatCulture Gaming's annual blooper videos considerably. She previously worked at GameSpot for 10 years, most notably hosting GameSpot News in addition to E3 live shows, and PAX panels. She regularly livestreams a variety of games on her 'jessmcdonell' YouTube and Twitch channels and hosts the 'Do It On The Day' podcast. She has won awards for her news and feature work in gaming as well as an accolade for her comedic writing (likely an admin error). She can be found on X at @jessmcdonell and Instagram at @jessicamcdonell sharing her current videogame fixations, industry insights, and videos of her cat, Karma.