The Tekken 8 release date has yet to be announced, but we have gathered comprehensive information regarding the forthcoming installment of this prominent fighting game franchise. Tekken 7, the preceding entry, was widely acclaimed and stands as the pinnacle of the series thus far. Consequently, enthusiasts eagerly await the unveiling of the developers’ innovative concepts in the upcoming release.
During Sony’s State of Play event in September, one of the most eagerly anticipated fighting games was officially announced, astonishing Tekken enthusiasts with the unexpected revelation of Tekken 8 being under development. The event featured the premiere of a gameplay trailer showcasing the utilization of a new game engine. Given the resounding critical and commercial triumph of Tekken 7, it is highly likely that Tekken 8 will secure a place on our future list of the best PC games. With the confirmation of the game’s existence, we can now delve into the available information regarding the release date, trailers, gameplay features, narrative elements, and more pertaining to Tekken 8.
Tekken 8 Release Date
Although the games press has had access to a specialized version of Tekken 8 with a limited character roster, an official release date for the game has not yet been confirmed. Based on current information, it is probable that Tekken 8 will be launched no earlier than 2024. During The Game Awards, a recent trailer unveiled key narrative elements and showcased the return of several characters. However, concrete details regarding the release date are still pending. Notably, series creator Katsuhiro Harada has confirmed that Tekken 8 is being developed from the ground up utilizing Unreal Engine 5, without reusing any assets from Tekken 7.
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Furthermore, the games press had the opportunity to experience Tekken 8 firsthand for a few hours in late March. Although Bandai Namco has not disclosed the release date for Tekken 8, the fact that a playable build featuring ten characters exists is indeed exciting news. This development may indicate that Tekken 8 is closer to completion than anticipated. Nonetheless, considering the extensive roster traditionally featured in Tekken games, it is still expected that the game will not be released until 2024, taking into account the necessary time for roster development.
Tekken 8 Trailer
The initial Tekken 8 Trailer showcases a compelling confrontation between the franchise’s central characters, Jin Kazama and his father, Kazuya Mishima, set amidst a desolate and tempestuous wasteland. Engaging in a fierce exchange of blows, the two combatants exhibit their prowess until Jin, harnessing the power bestowed by his devil gene, delivers a decisive strike to Kazuya, effectively concluding their clash. An intriguing aspect of the trailer is the presence of a disclaimer at its inception, implying that the footage displayed is rendered in real-time using the game’s engine. If substantiated, this indication suggests that players can anticipate equally breathtaking visuals in the final version of the game.
In recent months, Tekken 8 has unveiled a series of character trailers, each focusing on a specific fighter and showcasing their distinctive moves. Among the most recent character trailers, three fighters have been highlighted: Ling Xiaoyu, a returning character who has been a staple of the Tekken series since Tekken 3, Asuka Kazama, introduced in Tekken 5 and a recurring presence in subsequent games, and Leroy Smith, a DLC character introduced in Tekken 7. Additionally, Lili, who first appeared in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, continues her tenure and joins the roster. Notably, there have been no indications of entirely new characters being introduced thus far.
Tekken 8 Characters
Tekken 8 characters list:
- Nina Williams
- Jin Kazama
- Kazuya Mishima
- Paul Phoenix
- Marshall Law
- Jack-8
- King
- Lars Alexandersson
- Jun Kazama
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Asuka Kazama
- Leroy Smith
- Lili
- Bryan Fury
- Claudio
Tekken 8 Gameplay
The Tekken 8 Gameplay showcases a significant enhancement in graphics in tekken 8 trailer compared to Tekken 7, while the core gameplay mechanics appear largely familiar. In the Tekken series, characters typically retain most of their gameplay elements across titles, and it is reasonable to expect a similar continuity in Tekken 8.
During the Tekken North America Regional Finals, Katsuhiro Harada, the series creator, provided insights into some of the gameplay features that may have been overlooked in the Tekken 8 trailer presented at The Game Awards 2022. Notably, the trailer features a scene where the character Jack is slammed against a wall, resulting in a destructive explosion that inflicts substantial damage to both the stage environment and Jack himself.
One prominent addition in Tekken 7 was the introduction of the Rage Art and Rage Drive systems, which played a pivotal role in the game’s meta. Rage Arts are confirmed to make a return, as evidenced by Paul executing one against Law in the trailer. While the return of Rage Drive has not been officially confirmed, a new mechanic called “Heat” is introduced. Heat is distinct from Rage and can be activated in two ways: either by performing a “Heat Engager” move, causing the character to dash towards the opponent while Heat is active, or through a single button press (as demonstrated using the R1 button on a PlayStation controller in the video). Activating Heat initiates a timer that depletes rapidly but momentarily halts whenever the opponent is struck or blocks the player’s moves.
It is worth noting that Heat mechanics vary among characters. For instance, Jack gains a potent combo ender, Jin acquires a mid-combo canceling move that enables skilled players to extend their combos, and Kazuya undergoes a transformation into his Devil form. Additionally, there are shared actions within this new system, which can be explored in detail by referring to the accompanying video.
Tekken 8 Story
While the unveiled trailers for Tekken 8 story have been relatively discreet in terms of divulging story details, they do confirm that the narrative will revolve around Jin and his allies as they strategize to permanently eliminate Kazuya. Notably, the trailers also reveal the canonical return of Jun Kazama, Jin’s mother, marking her reappearance in the series since her last appearance in Tekken 2. Tekken 7 culminated with Kazuya seemingly slaying his father, Heihachi, and prolonging the ongoing global conflict between the G Corporation and Mishima Zaibatsu, which has persisted for several years. In the meantime, Jin emerges from a coma and begins devising plans to overthrow Kazuya.
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In recent installments, significant emphasis has been placed on the devil gene, a hereditary power possessed by both Jin and Kazuya, enabling them to assume heightened devil forms and augment their abilities. While Kazuya has mastered control over his devil gene, Jin has yet to do so and is susceptible to being overwhelmed by his devil form. However, the conclusion of the trailer implies that Jin has now acquired the ability to command the devil gene as well. This development raises intriguing questions regarding its impact on Jin’s storyline and the presence of Devil Jin as a distinct character.
Conclusion
Another novel addition to Tekken 8 is the Recoverable Gauge system. Similar to the Tekken Tag Tournament games, a portion of the damage incurred through blocking powerful moves or aerial combos remains as a white chunk in the Recoverable Gauge. Rather than recovering independently, this chunk refills when the player lands hits on their opponent or when the opponent blocks the player’s attacks.
