Table of Contents
Release Date | January 26, 2024 |
Developer | Bandai Namco Studios Inc. |
Platform | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows |
IGN Rating | 9/10 |
Steam Rating | 9/10 |
Here are 8 things about the forthcoming Tekken 8 installment, which is expected to alter the fighting game experience.
Article’s Summary
- Tekken 8 promises to deliver a visual and gameplay upgrade over its predecessor, Tekken 7.
- Out of 32 Tekken 8 characters, 24 is already revealed.
- Tekken 8 introduces a distinctive single-player mode known as ArcadeQuest.
- Tekken 8 is set to be released on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. With a significant power of next-gen consoles and Unreal Engine 5
Tekken, the name is as iconic as they come. The first game was released in 1994 and it was an immediate success. Since then, they’ve released a total of seven main releases and several spin-offs like Tekken Tag Tournament. Tekken’s combat, as a whole, stands as one of the greatest of all time. As for its overarching narrative, it’s also widely agreed to have one of the stories of all time. In a world where family squabbles are solved by the winner tossing the loser into volcanoes, the game’s intention is clear from the outset, winning the Iron Fist Tournament and becoming the greatest Tekken fighter, whether you’re a human, cyborg, devil, or bear. and now Tekken 8 is on the horizon. As one of the most highly anticipated games, it’s time to discuss the 8 things we know about Tekken 8.
Tekken 8- Gameplay
Tekken 8 promises to deliver a visual and gameplay upgrade over its predecessor, Tekken 7. The trailers have showcased impressive graphics, but it’s noteworthy that the core gameplay mechanics appear to retain the signature feel of the series. Historically, Tekken characters tend to carry over much of their fighting style and moves between titles. Tekken 8 doesn’t appear to deviate significantly from this tradition, maintaining the familiar and beloved combat dynamics that have made the franchise what it is today.
Recently, during the Tekken North America Regional Finals, Katsuhiro Harada, the series shed light on some of the gameplay features shown in the Tekken 8 trailer, including returning ones such as stage damage mechanics. A notable addition in Tekken 7 was the Rage Art and Rage Drive systems, which became integral to the game’s meta. While it’s confirmed that Rage Arts will make a return, the status of Rage Drive is still unclear.
A new mechanic known as Heat will also be introduced. Heat can be activated through specific moves, and it initiates a timer that drains quickly but pauses briefly when an opponent is hit or blocks your attacks. Each character will bring their unique Heat abilities to the table. It’s unclear how this may affect the metagame, but it’s sure to be an interesting option. You’ll notice this mechanic as a blue bar positioned right under the player’s health bar. Upon activation, your character will have a light blue aura surrounding them, and the bar itself will shift in color to a distinct purple hue. It’s possible that this could replace Tekken 7’s Rage Drive mechanic. Shifting away from the comeback mechanics is definitely something I can agree on. Overall, I highly doubt they will change the formula that much.
Tekken 8- Character Roster
In Tekken 8, the character roster is shaping up to be a diverse and intriguing mix of familiar faces and new contenders. Azucena, a new character, hails from Peru and is known for her love of coffee. Her fighting style appears to revolve around using taunts that turn into counters. The trailer showcases her ability to dodge or counter opponent’s moves, which seems quite powerful in the right hands. The confirmed Tekken 8 characters include the following;
- Jin Kazama
- Kazuya Mishima
- Asuka Kazama
- Azucena
- Bryan Fury
- Claudio Serafino
- Feng Wei
- Hwoarang
- Jack-8
- Jun Kazama
- King
- Lars Alexandersson
- Lili
- Yoshimitsu
- Sergei Dragunov
- Kuma
- Paul Phoenix
- Nina Williams
- Steve Fox
- Shaheen
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Marshall Law
- Leroy Smith
- Raven
- Leo
With 24 out of 32 characters revealed, there’s ample room for speculation. Unfortunately, Hihachi may be absent from the lineup after all, indicating that the events of Tekken 7 might have marked the end for this iconic character. At least for now. He’ll more than likely return as a DLC. Or maybe, just maybe, Bandai Namco could be trolling everyone. Let’s just hope he emerges from the volcano stronger than ever.
Story
While Tekken 8’s trailers gave us a lot of info regarding Tekken 8’s gameplay and character roster, the story remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. However, the trailers do offer subtle clues about what lies ahead. The central plot of Tekken 8 may revolve around Jin Kazama and his allies as they attempt to take down Kazuya Mishima once and for all. Notably, the trailers confirm the canonical return of Jun Kazama, Jin’s mother, making her first appearance in the series since Tekken 2. To understand the backdrop of Tekken 8, it’s crucial to revisit the events of Tekken 7. In 7, Kazuya seemingly kills his father, Hihachi, thus further aggravating the long-standing world war between the G Corporation and Mishima Zaibatsu.
Meanwhile, Jin emerges from a coma with a mission to bring down Kazuya. A recurring theme in recent Tekken titles has been the Devil Gene, a genetic power shared by both Jin and Kazuya, enabling them to morph into their formidable Devil Forms. While Kazuya has mastered his Devil Gene, Jin struggled to control it may be an important plot point. However, the conclusion of the trailer suggests that Jin may have finally gained control over the Devil Gene. And you know, this development raises very important questions.
Tekken 8 Beta
The beta kicked off on October 20 and lasted for 3 days, wrapping up on October 23. It featured the same character roster as the previous closed-network test, with the inclusion of additional fighters like Raven, Feng, and the newcomer Azucena. The closed-network test in July gave players access to 16 characters and it was a fantastic opportunity to test their skills against others. These tests provide valuable insights for the developers, allowing them to craft a balanced metagame by addressing overtuned characters, lopsided matchups, and potentially game-breaking mechanics.
Arcade Quest
While Tekken 8 primarily focuses on delivering intense one-on-one fighting action, it also introduces a distinctive single-player mode known as ArcadeQuest. This mode doesn’t replace the game’s overarching story and offers something different. Actually, different doesn’t really describe how odd this mode is. Basically, you make your own avatar and play with others in an arcade. It might even feature its own story for all we know. What makes it so strange, however, is the art style. It’s such a far cry from Tekken, that’s for sure. The concept behind ArcadeQuest is to recreate the feeling of stepping into an arcade and using quarters to play the full arcade mode. It’s a nod to the classic arcade experience of the 90s, when players honed their skills by competing against CPU opponents.
What sets ArcadeQuest apart is its AI learning feature. This AI will observe your gameplay style and adapt to mimic aspects of your strategy, creating a more personalized experience for the player. It’s an innovative approach that caters to both newcomers looking to improve and experience players seeking a fresh challenge. Overall, regardless of the strange art direction, I actually think this mode is pretty cool.
Platforms
Tekken 8 is set to be released on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. In other words, Tekken 8 will offer a next-gen experience. What’s particularly exciting for players is that the game will embrace full cross-platform play. This means that whether you and your friends are on different consoles, you can still battle online. In line with the game’s focus on competition and its roots in community-driven events like the Tekken World Tour and EVO, the online competitive aspect is expected to receive substantial improvements and a much larger player base. One significant enhancement is the incorporation of rollback netcode, a substantial upgrade compared to Tekken 7’s online infrastructure. Less lag and cross-platform play is a huge win in my book.
Graphics
Tekken 8 represents a significant leap in graphics. The game’s visual fidelity is a cut above previous titles, as it harnesses the power of next-gen consoles and Unreal Engine 5. According to Tekken 8 producer Michael Murray, the development team took a bold step by completely rebuilding all 32 character models from scratch. And folks, the focus extends beyond a mere 4K resolution, with an emphasis on enhancing environments, character detail, and basically everything. Murray explained that this transformation was due to the game’s shift to new hardware on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series XS. The team aimed to ensure that every aspect of the game would stand out. The team also went all out designing the stages. For instance, the New York stage features sunset-to-night transitions, complete with intricate details like falling snowflakes and dynamic elements such as police car lights. Unfortunately for PC players, we’ll likely need good hardware to play the game.
Release Date and DLC
Tekken 8’s release date has been a topic of significant discussion, with Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada making a surprising revelation on his Harada’s Bar online show. In a recent episode, Harada sat down with Gamer’s 8 champion Kakuru and renowned fighting game legend Tokido to delve into various aspects of the gaming world. During the interview, Harada dropped a bombshell by disclosing that Tekken 8 initially shared the same release date as another highly anticipated fighting title, strongly believed to be Street Fighter VI.
This revelation came shortly after the official unveiling of Tekken 8’s release date, which had just taken place following major gaming events like EVO 2023 and Gamer’s 8 in August. Harada’s announcement added an intriguing layer of competition and anticipation in the world of fighting games.
As it stands now, the current release date is January 26, 2024. With 20 non-guessed Tekken 7 characters missing from the current Tekken 8 roster, including favorites like HiHachi, Lei, and Ana, we can expect some of them to make a return in the form of DLC. In truth, no one enjoys Bandai Namco releasing past characters as DLC. We all complain about it. And still, we buy them anyway. As for the prospects of guest characters, no one can say for sure. Reports seem to indicate that they have no intention of releasing guest characters as DLC for now anyway. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments below.
Be sure to check out Electronic First blog to know the latest news and tips to enhance your skills and succeed in Tekken 8.
Where to buy Cheap Tekken 8
Looking for a low-cost way to get Tekken 8? Look no farther than Electronic First for the best prices on the game. Check out Electronic First for low-cost deals and enjoy the thrills of Tekken 8 without breaking the bank! You can find Tekken 8 available on various platforms, catering to your gaming preferences.
Discover the intense battles and iconic characters of Tekken 8 on Tekken 8 PC for a customizable and immersive gaming experience. If you’re a console gamer, experience the next level of fighting on Tekken 8 for PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, with stunning graphics and seamless gameplay.
Also if you’re interested in earning with Electronic First as soon as today, check out our affiliate program. You can share your link with friends, family or anyone. Sign up today to reap the rewards!