Summary
Tekkendirector Katsuhiro Harada has made a statement following the heavy volume of requests from fans to seeFinal Fantasy 7’s Tifa Lockhart added toTekken 8. The long-awaited release of the newest entry in the fighting game franchise has already seen rave reviews from both fans and critics. Many have already referred toTekken 8as one of the franchise’s strongest entries, praising its upgraded graphical presentation and new mechanics like the Heat system. Now, fans are clamoring for one particular character to join the roster.
Guest characters would become a staple of theTekkenfranchise withTekken 7, incorporating popular characters from other media into the fighting game.Tekken 7would feature a crossover from one of the franchise’s biggest competitors withStreet Fighter’s Akuma appearing as a playable character.Tekken 7would also includeThe Walking Dead’s Negan Smith andFinal Fantasy 15’s Noctis as DLC characters. The release ofTekken 8is now seeing another fan-favoriteFinal Fantasycharacter topping fan requests,Final Fantasy 7’s Tifa Lockhart.
As reported by IGN,Tekkendirector Katsuhiro Harada has made his own official statement following a deluge of fan requests for Tifa inTekken 8. Harada begins the post by jokingly mentioning Tifa’s “attractive” design while reassuring fans that no decisions have been made within theTekken 8team about guest character inclusions. Third-party characters like Tifa have typically been included as DLC content within theTekkenfranchise, withTekken 7being the first game to heavily feature guest characters. Bandai Namco has already confirmed franchise mainstayEddy Gordo asTekken 8’s first DLC character.
Fan demands for more third-party characters inTekken 8come as crossover fighters have become increasingly common within the gaming industry.Mortal Kombat’s recent entries have often featured multiple collaborations with other media, withMortal Kombat 1featuring characters likeThe Boys' HomelanderandInvincible’s Omni-Man. Others like theSuper Smash Bros. franchise have made the crossover element a main part of the game, including characters from several Nintendo games and third-party series.Tekken 8has yet to announce any DLC characters past the previously mentioned Eddy Gordo.
The launch ofTekken 8follows a year that was filled with major releases from several of the biggest fighting game franchises. June 2023 saw thelaunch ofStreet Fighter 6to critical acclaim, with many praising its robust online modes and plethora of features.Mortal Kombat 1would also debut in November as a reboot of the franchise, taking place in a new universe from the franchise’s past games.Tekken 8’s strong launch to start the year looks to give the beloved fighting game franchise a leg up on the competition.
Tekken 8
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
