Tekken 8 is a hotly anticipated game for any avid fighters, and despite how much we know about the setting and roster of the game so far, there's still a lot to learn about the most integral parts of the title.
We now know that Tekken 8 will be released on January 26, 2024. With Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 being 2023 games, it looks like we're in for a stellar year or so in terms of the best fighting games.
Despite the evident excitement of eager players, Bandai Namco has been pretty reserved in the promotional content they’ve put out regarding the release. That said, there’s still a good chunk of information to dissect from gameplay trailers and the roster itself, and we’ve pulled together everything there is to know so far about the release of Tekken 8.
Tekken 8 – cut to the chase
- What is it? The eighth mainline Tekken game and the 10th overall in the series
- When can I play it? January 26, 2024
- What can I play it on? PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.
- Who makes it? Bandai Namco
Tekken 8 release date and platforms
The Tekken 8 release date is currently scheduled for January 26, 2024, as confirmed by a new trailer shown during Gamescom's Opening Night Live ceremony on August 22.
Regarding platforms, we can expect Tekken 8 to arrive on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. In addition to this, it has been confirmed that Tekken 8 will be entirely cross-platform so regardless of which console you and your friends are playing on, you’ll be able to battle it out in the ring.
With the emphasis the game has on competition and the inspiration it’s derived from community-led events such as the Tekken World Tour and EVO, the online side of competitive play is expected to support players better than before. That’s because Tekken 8 will also feature rollback netcode, a huge improvement over Tekken 7’s online that should lead to vastly more stable connections when playing online.
Tekken 8 trailers
The most recent Tekken 8 trailer was shown as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 22 and offered the first look at an entirely new solo game mode alongside a few returning characters to the roster who are yet to receive a spotlight on their move set. In addition to this, 32 characters are confirmed to be on the game's base roster, before the trailer is closed out with a release date, confirming its launch on January 26, 2024. The full trailer can be seen below:
More Tekken 8 trailers can be found on the Bandai Namco YouTube channel, alongside the gameplay trailers for each announced character. Character trailers are dropping at a frequent rate, so expect this page to update as new and returning fighters announce their return.
With a new mainline Tekken game, players are desperate to see which legacy characters will return for the current-gen experience. Although many fan-favorite and storyline-integral characters such as Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima will return, we can also expect to see a handful of new fighters with entirely new movesets to master.
Tekken 8 roster
The Tekken 8 roster currently consists of:
- Jin Kazama
- Kazuya Mishima
- Jun Kazama
- King
- Paul Pheonix
- Nina Williams
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Jack-8
- Marshall Law
- Leroy Smith
- Lars Alexandersson
- Asuka Kazama
- Emilie “Lili” De Rochefort
- Hwoarang
- Bryan Fury
- Claudio Serafino
- Raven
- Azucena
- Yoshimitsu
- Leo Kliesen
- Dragunov
- Shaheen
- Kuma
- Steve Fox
- Feng Wei
- Panda
Tekken 7 had various DLC characters available on top of the standard roster, which appears to change in Tekken 8 since Leroy Smith will be part of the game’s base roster. That’s not to say that DLC characters won’t make a reappearance within Tekken 8, it might just be a case of entirely new characters receiving DLC spots as opposed to the ones we’ve learned to love.
This also raises the question of whether characters like Fahkumram and Lidia will debut on the main roster, but it's hard to believe that the entire roster will be announced prior to the game's official release. With the anticipated return of Jun Kazama too, it’s impossible to predict any future debuts, which only adds to the excitement.
Tekken 8 gameplay
As expected from a game as high stakes as Tekken, a level of aggressiveness and competition is bound to be reflected through gameplay and the coinciding mechanics. However, Harada stated during an interview with IGN that “the key word to relay the concept for the battle system is aggressiveness.”
Although fighting games already go hand in hand with aggression, expect Tekken 8 to be fast-paced and hard-hitting, especially with the introduction of a handful of new mechanics and the reintroduction of fan favorites.
A huge amount of gameplay within Tekken 8 has been inspired by the competitive side of Tekken 7, with particular emphasis on fan reception from the viewer's perspective rather than just the players.
In the same interview, Harada continued to state that “It’s not just important that a game be fun for the person playing it. It has to look fun to play to captivate and bring in new people.” So while gameplay might be the most technical and most aggressive we have experienced in a Tekken title to date, new players will also be able to enjoy the game without having prior experience with the franchise.
In a 35-minute Q&A shown during the Tekken World Finals, Harada shared details of a few new gameplay mechanics players can expect to utilize within Tekken 8, alongside discussing a few returning favorites and how they’ve been designed to match the new aggressiveness of gameplay.
The Heat System is a prime example of a new mechanic for Tekken 8, acting similarly to rage arts and rage drives but once again reinforcing the aggression Harada is desperate to introduce. A blue bar will sit under the health bar of each competitor and fill during combat, turning purple once ready to be activated. Activating your heat bar will have a similar input to activating Rage Art, or a newly titled Heat Engager.
During the active period, which lasts for about 10 seconds, the player will be able to perform Heat Dashes and a Heat Smash to cause a high amount of damage to the opponent. In addition to this, all attacks of the player will result in chip damage, which converts into recoverable health. At any point, the active player can consume the remainder of their Heat Bar to perform a Heat Dash, which functions in the same way as a Rage Drive would.
We also know Tekken 8 is set to deliver an entirely new solo mode that seems to function similarly to the Battle Hub in Street Fighter 6. Titled 'Arcade Quest,' this mode will allow players to create an avatar before exploring an arcade-style hub, where you will then be able to challenge players online in tournament-style battles alongside 1v1s, and also create new outfits for your favorite fighters.
Tekken 8 news
Tekken 8 will receive a Closed Network Test in October 2023
Tekken 8 is opening its doors for a Close Network Test in October, allowing players to jump into the game for a limited time and play within a handful of maps and with a limited roster.
Tekken 8 release date confirmed at Gamescom Opening Night Live
Alongside a brand new trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tekken 8 has finally received a release date. Scheduled to launch on January 26, 2024, the newest installment of the Tekken franchise is coming around a lot quicker than we originally thought it would.
Tekken 8's first all-new fighter, Azucena, revealed at EVO 2023
During the Tekken 7 top 6 at EVO 2023, Azucena was announced as Tekken 8's first all-new fighter. Promising a 'strong and punchy blend', Azucena offers an incredibly fast fighting style, and several stances used to dodge any oncoming attacks at quick speed. Alongside the character, a new three-story stage will be added to the current setting roster, set in Peru.
Tekken 8 Closed Network Test announced for July
A closed network test will be taking place for Tekken 8 starting on July 21. Starring 16 characters, and 5 stages, registration for the event is now open and can be accessed through the Tekken Twitter Page.
Heat energy removed from gameplay
Heat energy has been removed from gameplay, and the heat activation time has been confirmed to change depending on how heat is activated. The 'Heat Smash' command has also been standardized for all playable characters.
For more action-packed fun, its worth checking out the best FPS games, alongside the best multiplayer games on PC if you're looking for a good way to spend your time before Tekken 8 launches in January.