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Celebrity chef and entrepreneur Gordon Ramsay has cooked up another collab. This time it’s a savory helping of mobile gaming. I don’t think anyone asked for a Hay Day x Gordon Ramsay crossover, but now that we have it, I’m here for it. It’s been a long time since the first celebrity Fortnite concert. Famous faces are now familiar appearances in games. Yet, how a collaboration will be used matters almost as much as who the star is. I wouldn’t have pictured Ramsay’s rakish grin and culinary hijinks in a casual farming sim, but celeb life is full of surprises. Here’s what the fuss on the farm is all about.
Hell’s Kitchen Chef Gets a Day in the Country
Temper tantrums are as essential to Gordon Ramsay’s public persona as bacon is to a BLT. The celebrity chef’s boisterous and combative style is a huge part of his brand. That’s so much the case that when Ramsay toned down his antics for Season 23 of Hell’s Kitchen, his peacefulness left some viewers underwhelmed. If anything, Supercell seems happy to embrace the chef’s fiery reputation, no matter how much capsaicin it may contain. Gordon Ramsay’s temper may be better suited for Animal Farm than it is for a farm full of animals, but a trailer for the crossover sold me.
In it, Gordon mocks his own attempts at self-control. Positive affirmations devolve into screaming in the mirror. Laughter therapy turns to weeping in the car. Even Ramsay’s digital detox lasts all of three seconds before he snatches his phone back. That’s until he starts a game of Hay Day, calling it “the essence of harmony,” only to step in a cowpie moments later. Yes, the self-referential tone is predictable, but the cheekiness works. “I know what you’re thinking,” Ramsay says. “‘Gordon hasn’t really changed. He’ll always be angry.'” Yet, as he wanders down an idyllic country road, still kicking dung off his boot, his mind already seems to be back on Hay Day and his pigs.
Should We Let Guest Appearances Cook?
Gordon Ramsay’s Hay Day appearance is part of a time-limited event. From January 15-24, Ramsay will replace Hay Day hero Greg as the player’s farm assistant. The event will also include new features and events, giving players another reason to see Ramsay’s (hopefully) smiling face. Since casual games are known for low-key gameplay and soothing vibes, the mere presence of Ramsay’s cartoon avatar is a wink and nod at players. While it would be nice to see more interplay between Ramsay’s character and the core mechanics, I’m just happy he’s not making my cows cry.
Plenty of celebs have been featured in games as skins or even full characters. Whether it’s Post Malone in Hunt or Jean-Claude Van Damme in Hitman, the faces of gaming are only getting more famous. A celebrity appearance is, in itself, neutral. It’s the creativity of the vision and the quality of the execution that makes the difference. Whether Gordon Ramsay pleases your palate or burns like a boiling bisque, there’s some genuine heart behind his Hay Day cameo. Now we just have to teach him not to swear around the lambs. You can download Hay Day for free on Android and iOS.
