Tekken 8: Everything We Know

Bandai Namco is, quite literally, getting ready for the next battle, with development on its next chapter in the Tekken saga finally underway. As for when Tekken 8 will release is still anybody's guess, although according to its devs, the long-awaited sequel will be a “turning point” for the everlong feud between Jin and Kazuya. With that, a new era is set to be ushered in — and it'll be heading to consoles and PC.

Fortunately, Bandai Namco hasn't been overly coy about sharing details on Tekken 8. Matter of fact, the project as a whole is laden with snippets that pertain to its characters and its gameplay. However, for the sake of keeping it trimmed and somewhat to-the-point, here's everything you need to know about it.

What Is Tekken 8?

To put it straight, Tekken 8 is an upcoming action game by Bandai Namco. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the sequel to 2015's Tekken 7 will bring decade-old traditions to an all-new shell for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. And while Bandai has yet to paint a premise on the project, the team has made it clear that it'll be “bringing back old grudges to a new generation.”

According to the devs, Tekken 8 will feature “high-definition character models built from the ground-up with high-fidelity skin and hair, along with immersive graphics such as muscles that shift to reflect character movement.” So, clearly a few steps ahead of its previous instalment, then.

Story

Father. Son. Mother. This family reunion is going to be explosive.  #TEKKEN 8 is bringing back old grudges to the new generation – Kazuya, Jin, Paul, King, Law, Lars, Jack-8 and… the return of Jun Kazama! 

Get ready for the next-gen battle! pic.twitter.com/MoMqlNWSbt

— TEKKEN (@TEKKEN) December 9, 2022

As it stands, not a whole lot is known about the story. That said, Bandai Namco has revealed that it will feature a “family reunion” of sorts, meaning Jin Kazama, Kazuya Mashima, and Jun Kazama will surely lay the foundations for the plot. It will also include a myriad of returning characters, as made evident by the in-game screenshots Bandai supplied in the aftermath of its early announcement. This iconic roster will include fan favorites such as Paul Phoenix, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, and King.

Of course, we do have the trailer to go on here, which depicts an epic battle between Jin and Kazuya. Clearly, then, it'll revive old sparks, and will also loop in Jin's Devil Gene—a powerful, yet untethered form that boasts uncontrollable abilities. Outside of that, it's really anybody's guess, as it will continue to be until the guys over at Bandai Namco shed a little extra light on it.

Gameplay

Given the fact that this is a Tekken game we're talking about, one can only expect it to adhere to its decade-old arcade-style formula. By that, we mean standard two-player clashes that involve high-octane combat, and endless amounts of mind-blowing button mashing pandemonium. On that note, it'll be the same bread and butter arcade fighting game we celebrated back in 1994. Just expect it to have a little more fluidity and zazz.

There is something new here, which is the “Heat System” combat mechanic—a feature that will let players harness aggression during battle and, with it, unleash a variety of special enhanced attacks “based on each character’s unique features.” This will essentially allow players to alter their playstyles, and in turn switch between offensive and defensive move sets with ease.

Development

Bandai Namco, having been the dominant force behind the Tekken series since its 1994 arcade debut, will head up the latest chapter. And it make sense that it would take control of the reins, being the know-it-alls of the IP and its fairly convoluted story arcs and individual character traits.

Announced back in September at Sony's State of Play event, Bandai Namco brought news of the latest iteration in the most traditional way possible — in the form of an epic cinematic trailer. Since then, the Japanese firm has done anything but keep quiet on the matter, and has, in fact, spent most of its time and resources promoting its every asset and minor detail.

Of course, the burning question that's been plucking the backs of our necks since its formal announcement is when will the game release? And the honest answer to that is, well, nobody really knows. Given the fact that 2024 will be the series' thirtieth anniversary, though, it could be worth circling next year as a whole.

Trailer

Wondering whether or not Bandai Namco has teased a trailer? You're in luck, as the studio posted not one, but several previews of the game and its countless playable characters. And not just the single all-in-one showcase, but individual two-minute pieces outlining each of the fighter's style and primary offensive moves. But before we jump ahead into all that, be sure to check out the initial story and gameplay reveal in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Tekken 8 will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. A release date has yet to be announced, though insiders seem to be pointing towards either the latter half of 2023, or early 2024. Should this be the case, then Bandai is sure to make a formal announcement ahead of Q3 2023. Here's hoping, anyway.

As of April 2023, Bandai Namco has yet to reveal any details surrounding a special or deluxe edition of the game. Having said that, the franchise does have a history of having lavish collector's editions and DLC, so rest assured that there'll certainly be something in the pipeline. If we're lucky, then we'll be informed three, maybe four months ahead of its launch.

If you're interested in keeping tabs on the Tekken 8 timeline, then you'll want to check in with the official social feed here. But if, for whatever reason, anything truly noteworthy comes about, then we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Tekken 8 when it drops? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.