The thir??d edition of Red Bull's Tekken tournament Golden Letters is looming, a tournament that's not just about beating your opponent, but doing so in style.

Usually, a tournament set is awarded to the first player to win a set number of g??ames. But at Golden Letters, any time a player scores a "Perfect" or a "Great" round victory, it holds the same weight as a game win. That means a player that only won three rounds the entire match could still come out on top.

Golden Letters will give everyone a reason to remember the 28th and 29th night of September, where 20 competitors from various nations of the Tekken?? empire will descend upon the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London.

The Gold Standard

There is no coaching allowed at Golden Letters, so competitors are entirely on their own. All matches played at Golden Letters are first to three game wins, but beca??use you can win based on Perfect or Great rounds, a match could end in a single game, before it ever goes the distance.

20 competitors separate into four groups of ?five, and play out their 1v1 matches in round robin style. Every player in a pool plays each player in their pool once. The three combatants with the best match records in each pool will advance to the final Top 12 double elimination bracket. First and second place go to the winner's side, and third on the loser's. In the event of a tiebreaker, players compare game counts, then "golden letter" round victories.

Here are the groups for the Red Bull Golden Letters 2024 tournament:

Pool 1

• Arslan Ash
• AK
• KaneAndTrench
• Yuyu
• Sour Piggy

Pool 2

• Atif
• JDCR
• Speedkicks
• Ayo Richie
• Nino

Pool 3

• Ulsan
• Joka
• Jodd
• Anakin
• Shonen

Pool 4

• CherryBerryMango (CBM)
• Yagami
• Joey Fury
• the-SAM-brother
• Tetsu

The player pool is a who's who of Tekken, and chock-full of absolute killers. A?rslan Ash is a five-time EVO champion and a front-runner to win any event he enters. Ayo Richie was the inaugural Golden Letters champ in 2022, and looks to regain his title after falling short last year. Anakin and KaneAndTrench fought in the two previous tournaments, but have yet to stand at the top of the podium. The one certainty with Golden Letters is that it'll be an interesting watch.

The post Red Bull’s Tekken 8 tournament Golden Letters rewards style points in a Perfect way appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekken is a franchise widely known for giving players a high degree of freedom when the subject is customization. That, of course, remains true in Tekken 8, which results in the debut of both novel crossovers? and c?ursed creations.

But did you know that it is possible to make high-quality custom characters while only using F2P items/options? To help you add even more personality to your main, here are 10 great custom characters/ outfits you can make for free in Tekken 8, as well as how to make them.

Ryu and Ken (Street Fighter)

To start with two of the most popular customizations in the game, you can fight while dressed as both Ryu and Ken in Tekken 8 by using the simple Gi and headba??nd combinations below. If you want to go beyond and fully embody the world's most famous shoto duo, equip the Shareen Short Hair on your Ryu and a blonde Lee Short Center Part Haircut on Ken.

• Head (Ryu only): Japanese Headband (Short) - Red. You can also use a white Japanese Headband (Long) for that Street Fighter Alpha look.
• Upper Body: Karate Top (Gloves) - Use a white Gi for Ryu and a red one for Ken. Keep in mind that Ryu wears red gloves while Ken favors black ones.
• Lower Body: Ripped Karate Bottoms - White for Ryu and a red pair for Ken.
• Shoes: No shoes.

2B (NieR)

For all Nier fans looking to showcase their love, you can dress Alisa, Lily, and Asuka as 2B by first equipping their Tekken 7, Tekken 8 Style [P1], and Tekken 8 Style [Lili P1] outfits, respectively. After doing that,?? simply paint your chosen outfit completely black and equip the below:

• Hair: Short Bob and Bangs - White.
• Glasses: Blindfold.
• Accessory (Optional): Naginata. If you have purchased the Ninja Pack DLC, use the Ninja Katana to equip a weapon resembling 2B's signature Virtuous Contract.

Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil)

One of the most known custom characters in the game, made famous by Reddit user shmick28, you can turn any male character into Leon by equipping them with the Short Curtain Haircut, a brown Aviator Jacket, a pair of black Slacks, and the Nicklas Boots. To finish the look, many also enjoy giving him the Shotgun Accessory. To recap, here's how to make Leon's signature Resident Evil 4 Remake look in Tekken 8:

• Hair: Short Curtain Haircut (Light brown). Make sure to change the color of your character's eyebrows as well.
• Upper Body: Aviator Jacket - Brown.
• Lower Body: Slacks - Black.
• Shoes: Nicklas Boots - Black.
• Accessory: Shotgun (Optional).

Ada Wong (Resident Evil)

As she is the only character in the game who wears a dress similar to Ada's, you can only replicate the latter's classic Resident Evil 4 look while using Nina. To do that, equip Nina with her Tekken 8 Style [Alternative A] or ??[Alternative B] outfits before changing the color of your chosen dress to red. After doing that, just equip her with the Asuka Short Hair and change the color of her eyebrows and hair to black.

If you are not a Nina main, you can also cosplay as Ada with any other ?female character by pairing the Asuka Short Hair with the assemble below:

• Glasses: Nina Sunglasses - Black.
• Upper Body: Trench Coat or the Detective Coat - Light brown.
• Lower Body: Slacks - Black.
• Shoes: Nina High Boots (Stockings).

Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury/KOF)

Terry is everywhere, so why not bring him to Tekken? Taking inspiration from Reddit user bitboydz, you can make the Legendary Hungry Wolf by first changing your chosen character's hair and eyebrow colors to blonde (if needed) and equipping a red Baseball Cap. Now, go to Accessories and place a Straight Hair Extension B on the back of their head to simulate Terry's? long hair before equipping the below:

• Upper Body: Biker Vest - Red vest, white shirt, and black gloves.
• Lower Body: Jeans - Any shade of blue.
• Shoes: High Top Sneakers - Red and white.

Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

You can make two distinct versions of Jujutsu Kaisen's Satoru Gojo in Tekken 8, o??ne featuring his The Battle of the Strongest outfit and one boasting his Hidden Inventory look. We will be focusing on the former, which can be made by selecting any character and then equipping them with the following:

• Hair: Leo Short Hair - White. Make sure to also change your character's eyebrow color.
• Eyes: Beast.
• Upper Body: T-shirt - Black.
• Lower Body: Karate Bottoms - White pants with a black belt. If using a female character or Leo, use either a white pair of Checkered Slacks or a white pair of Wide Jeans.
• Shoes: A black pair of Letter Shoes when using a male character / Loafers (Socks) when using a female character or Leo.

Power (Chainsaw Man)

You can make Chainsaw Man's Power in Tekken 8 by first equipping your chosen character with the Alisson Summer Medium Hair and then changing its color to match the character's. To make her horns, we will then use two Single Horns placed at the center of her head. Once you are done with the above, simply add the following to the?? mix:

• Eyes: Sunflower (Use Justify if you have acquired it as a paid-tier Tekken Fighter Pass reward).
• Upper Body: 3/4 Sleeve Shirt (Necktie) - Black necktie.
• Lower Body: Checkered Pants - Black.
• Shoes: Steve Snickers. Make sure to paint all of its colored portions with pink.

Sanji (One Piece)

The first custom character I ever made in the game, you can turn any male Tekken 8 character into Sanji by dressing them up with a Formal Jacket, a pair of Stripped Slacks, and a pair of Leader Shoes. Although no hairstyle in the game can come close to his, the Leo Short Hair, the Short Curtain Haircut, and the Asuka Short Hair will provide a similar look. If using a female character, pair your chosen hairstyle with a Blazer, a pair of Checke?red Pants, and with the Loafers (Socks).

To recap, here are the items needed to make One Piece's Sanji in Tekken 8:

• Hair: Leo Short Hair / Short Curtain Haircut / Asuka Short Hair - Blonde.
• Upper Body: Formal Jacket / Blazer - Black with a golden dress shirt and a black tie.
• Lower Body: Stripped Slacks / Checkered Pants - Black.
• Shoes: Leader Shoes / Loafers (Socks) - Black.

Trunks (Dragon Ball)

Even if not as popular as the Super Saiyan Goku and Badman Vegeta custom outfits, Tekken 8 allows you to make a spot-on recreation of Future Trunks (also known as the best version of the character). You can make Trunks in Tekken 8 by equipping the following:

• Hair: Short Curtain Haircut - Light Purple
• Upper Body: Motorcycle Jacket - Matte purple
• Lower Body: Slacks - Black pants featuring a golden or yellow belt
• Shoes: Boots / Steve's Boxing Shoes - Golden

As revealed by Youtuber reinanuoni, you can also make a jacketless version of Trunks by pairing the Jeans with Chain with a Tank Top, as using the? latter will cause the top to be tucked in.

Now that you how to dress your favorites as your well, favorites, don't forget to also check out our updated Tekken 8 v1.06 tier list.

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It is not an understatement to say that Tekken 8 features one of the most balanced rosters within the franchise, as new patches are constantly? released to address unintended behaviors and provide buffs and nerfs in equal measure (in most cases).

But no matter how balanced a game might be, it is unavoidable that some characters will perform better than others. To help you be ready for the next battle, here's an updated tier list featuring all of the playable characters in Tekken 8.

• Before we start, keep in mind that a character's placement here should not discourage you from trying them out, as mastering your main and understanding the opposition will give you a fair chance no matter who you face.

Tekken 8 Tier List

Side-stepping away from the usual S to C format, we decided to divide our Tekken 8 tier list into six tiers, going from S+ t??o B —the latter given how I don't believe any member of the game's roster is bad enough to be considered C-Tier. You can check out our tier list below and a deeper dive into each tier by heading further down.

In the S+tier we have characters with no (or very few) bad matchups, courtesy o?f their versatility and ability to keep tabs on you at all times. Among them, Dragonov stands in a class of his own, as even if we argue that Nina's amazing pokes and Jin's mix-up potential set them on equal footing, they pale in comparison to the?? suffocating pressure the White Angel of Death can apply on both mid and close range. His ability to crouch cancel also adds another layer to his already-filled toolkit.

In the S-tier, we have what I like to call S+ characters with weaknesses. That means that using them will demand taking a few risks, even if some cases —like King's�will produce a massive payoff. That also makes them considerably easier to punish when compared to our top tiers. An example of that can be seen in Alisa, who can b?e easily countered with well-timed sidesteps.

In the A-tier, we have characters that are just as dangerou??s, but have way clearer streng??ths and weaknesses when compared to the above, which limits them to a certain degree and translates to a higher amount of bad matchups. The home of most of the game's cast, you will also find a good mix of technical (such as Lili, Steve, and Kazuya) and easy-to-pick-up characters here.

As the game's newest addition, it's important to highlight Lidia here, who earns a spot thanks to her ability to quickly close the distance (especially with he?r exc??ellent →→2 and running + 1) and perform a good array of mix-ups.

In the B+ tier, we have characte?rs that albeit solid, lack versatility. That causes them to quickly become predictable, as most of their out-of-the-box options and mix-ups won't offer a decent payoff. Some will also have gimmicks that can do more harm than good in certain instances or have in their large majority risky moves, such as Jun and Devil Jin respectively.

On B-Tier, we have characters that can still deplete your health bar in seconds but are considerably easier to punish even ??if the player decides to s?hift its pace, which can make them feel one-dimensional and cause them to be easily countered when faced with high-level players. The biggest example of this is Eddy, who although one of the biggest nightmares for new and intermediate players given his long strings and unholy lows, needs to dance over eggshells when faced with most matchups at a high level.

Now that you know in which tier your favorite character is, don't forget to also check out how to successfully read combos online in Tekken 8.

The post Tekken 8 Tier Lis??t (v1.06): The Best Tekken 8 characters, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the biggest pieces of news coming out of Evo 2024 was the announcement that Heihachi would be coming back to Tekken 8. This rules because it's both the return of the series' most iconic villain, but also because this particular update might change the way the story of Tekken progresses going forward.

What's so special about Heihachi in Tekken 8?

Tekken 8, like most modern fighting games, is no stranger to DLC characters. It had previously added Eddy Gordo, the fan-favorite capoeira fighter introduced way back in Tekken 3, and is about to introduce Tekken 7's Lidia, the �I kid you not �Karate-fighting Prime Minister of Poland.

Heihachi, however, will be the first DLC character in Tekken history to feature a return powerful enough to push the plot forward. That's right, even though Tekken 8 had seemingly concluded in the most epic way imaginable for a fighting game, that's actually far from the ending of the game's s???tory. With Kazuya out of the picture (for now), Heihachi wants back in.

How is Heihachi even back?

Despite its extremely over-the-top plot, the Tekken series has yet to feature an instance of actual resurrection. A bunch of Iron Fist Tournament contenders such as Armor King, Jun, and Baek, have already seemingly died in past games, only to just come back a few games later with vague explanations similar to "I actually wasn't all that dead. Also, I'm here to do battle, why are you asking me all these questions?" I totally get that, because why would you throw away a beloved character that already fits the highly precise gamepla?y ecosystem of the game?

In regards to Heihachi's return, well, I just don't know whether he's actuall?y coming back from the dead, or if he'd just been enjoying a nice little restorative nap inside a volcano. Also, I'm fine with whatever explanation, and I think most fans will be as well. Serving the plot is important, but the main driving force of a fighting game will alway?s be its gameplay.

Heihachi had seemingly died at the hands of Kazuya at the canon ending of the original Tekken, then supposedly once again right at the start of Tekken 5. Heihachi surviving against all ?odds is no surprise to anyone w?ho's been with the series for a while.

Please enjoy the beautiful moment below of a panel where series head Katsuhiro H?arada states that Heihachi is "completely dead". Nobody is able to take him seriously, and I'm pretty sure the man himself had to use all of ?his strength to avoid breaking character:

Harada then even had th??e gall to come to Twitter and rub it on hour faces that he'd been playing us like a fiddle all along. And we're all just absolutely here for it, because is it even a lie if we'd been on it the entire time?

What's new about Heihachi?

The most important question, probably, is what will Heihachi be attempting to do in Tekken 8? Are we about to see a more back-to-basics approach as Jin and Heihachi go for a more realistic battle at the end of the extended campaign, or has Heihachi finally unlocked a super power of his own? I mean, he mustn't have survived falling into a volcano just out of sheer luck. Personally, I'd love to see a DLC campaign that reminds me of the more grounded days of, say, Tekken 3. And, given the more personal nature of the very final battle seen in Tekken 8, I'd argue that it's not completely out of the ????cards.

Whatever Heihachi's revenge plan might be, I like the idea of an evolving plot inside a fighting game. Tekken 7 was the best-selling and most-enduring game in the series, and if Tekken 8 wants to do even better, this is a smart way to keep players engaged. I wasn't originally too hot on the plot of Tekken 8; I believed the series had gone off the rails plot-wise a long time ago, but I actually enjoyed seeing all the hard work put into the massive scope of Tekken 8's campaign mode.

It remains to be seen whether Heihachi's DLC will feature such grandiose action setpieces as Tekken 8's campaign, but the idea of seeing the plot advance with at least some of the DLCs is definitely a welcome one. Heichachi will be the penultimate programmed DLC character to release for Tekken 8, so it remains to be seen whether the supposed final DLC will offer yet another explosive conclusion to the story of Tekken 8.

The post Heihachi return??s to Tekken 8, because no volc?ano can hold him appeared first on Destructoid.

During Evo 2024, Bandai Namco shared a new trailer highlighting the first season of content and updates it has planned for Tekken 8, capping things off with a DLC character revea??l for Lidia Sobieski.

As a refresher, Lidia is the prime minister of Poland and a practitioner of karate who was introduced as a DLC fighter in Tekken 7. Her Tekken 8 reveal doesn't show any of her gameplay, sadly, though I can't imagine she'll play that much differently to how she did in Tekken 7. She's slated to arrive in the summer, but anyone who buys the Character Year 1 Pass will get early access to her, just like what happened with Eddy Gordo's?? inclusion.

A new character isn't all Bandai Namco has promised for 2024. For starters, Tekken 8 will start receiving battle adjustments later this spring to keep the game balanced. Then, in the summer, Lidia will be accompanied by a new Seaside Resort stage (which looks awfully similar to the Island Paradise stage that was bundled with Lidia's inclusion in Tekken 7) as well as a photo mode, both of which are free updates. No mention of a Waffle House stage though.

The thing I'm most looking forward to is the new story chapter in the fall. Exact details are slim, but the brief glimpses we see of it show it'll prominently feature Eddy, who obviously missed out on Tekken 8's story mode by virtue of being DLC. Judging by what little there is??, it seems Eddy will b??e ditching his previous role as a member of the Mishima Zaibatsu's Tekken Force so he can team up with Jin to help bring down Kazuya and save the world.

So, it's not continuing the main story but showing new sides of it, which I'm more than happy with, especially since it's a free update, meaning you?? don't even need to purchase Eddy to access it. Hopefully, this isn't the only story update; I'd love to see what Lidia was doing during all this considering Kazuya was threate?ning to destroy the nations that failed to win his fighting tournament. Surely, Lidia would've entered herself to protect her homeland.

Bandai Namco has mentioned it'll add two new gameplay modes—Ghost vs. Ghost and Online Practice—as well, but it hasn't provided release windows for them yet. There are also two more DLC characters still to come in the fall and winter, but their identities remain a mystery. Could one of them be a guest character, like Akuma and Geese Howard were for Tekken 7? Executive producer Katsuhiro Harada hasn't ruled out Tekken 8 receiving guest characters, only sayin??g, if it were to happen, they'd be DLC and not part of ?the base roster.

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Katsuhiro Harada has been flooded with all sorts of requests to add things to Tekken 8. ?From character and crossover requests, his mentions are now being swarmed by requests for a Waffle House to be part of the game’s lineup of stages.

After being unable to dodge this request, Harada-san had to finally put his foot down and ask why people wanted this place to be a playable stage in Tekken 8. S??o, people broke down why exactly this should be in the game.

An X (formerly Twitter) u??ser, Brian Smawley, or @ChefLuBu_ATL perfectly broke down why this iconic landmark should be in Bandai Namco’s latest fighting game. In a set of Tweets, he said the following: 

• 1. As many have noted it is a place where many many fights happen
• 2. It's an iconic southern American diner, it's open for business 24/7 and that includes holidays. It is one of the most iconic businesses in the South.
• 3. The staff there have to deal with a lot, including drunk people coming in after the bar or club and getting into fights, often those fights are recorded by bystanders.
• 4. Sometimes people try to fight the staff and those people ALWAYS LOSE. Waffle House staff are hard.
• 5. A waffle house stage can be anywhere in 50% of America. It lets you have a stage in America without tying it down to a specific state.
• 6. The food is incredible, Harada-san

Brian Smawley

As someo??ne who unfortunately does not live in a state where a Waffle House resides, some establishments are similar to what this user described. I’ve been to places that fit into the aforementioned descriptors of a? Waffle House. 

Being a Southern California native, specifically in South Central Los Angeles, the kinds of Waffle Houses we have here are certain 24-hour diners, some chain fast food restaurants, or streetside Mexican?? food vendors who are out until 2 in the morning. They may not have your typical breakfast foods, but they sure do hit the spot.

Let me tell you, something always goes down at night at these places. It starts with belligerent yelling, followed by some physical altercation, and a decently high chance of a weapon being bra??ndished and possibly used. 

There are in fact, drunk patrons, or those on a bender who need something cheap and quick to soak up all the heavy drinking to keep them going. The staff do have to deal with a lot but usually have a tight??-knit community backing them in the case that they get involved in a physical altercation with disgruntled, overly inebriated customers, or people just looking for trouble.

And yes, the food is immaculate. I’m not en?ti??rely sure if it’s because I’ve had a long night out and any nourishment will be incredible or if it’s because I’m truly savoring food that might be my last meal (because of safety reasons). 

But, if this stage were to become a reality in Tekken 8, it has to only be at night. Waffle Houses and other equivalent establishments don’t become an anything-goes fighting ring until the dark? hours of the day. 

I??t would be a culturally hilarious meme for Western folks who have heard the stories and lived to tell the tale of these dingy, yet iconic landmarks. 

Though, with Harada now understanding what a Waffle House is, he did deliver some most likely unfortunate news. He goes on to say that the restaurant owns the trademark and rights to the name and image of the establishment. So, even if he proposes the idea of implementing this area in Tekken 8, it can be shot down if they don't ac??cept it.

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It's a big day for fighting game fans, as the Evo Championship Series has locked in its main stage selection for a new year. Eight games will be featured across three days on the main stage at Evo 2024, including the likes of Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1, on July 19 through 21.

The news was announced today on a special stream, hosted by Vicious, MajinObama, and other members of the fighting game community. Though many games get played at Evo, either on stage or in side tournam??ents,?? or even in hotel lobbies and outside the venue, these are the titles that will take the spotlight in this year's event:

• Tekken 8
• Street Fighter 6
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Guilty Gear Strive
• The King of Fighters XV
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

The presence of Street Fighter 6 should be no surprise, given its record-breaking entrants from last year and incredible grand finals. Tekken 8 looks to carry forward the legacy of its series, and by all accounts it's doing well. It seems likely that these two will compete for the most entrants at this year's festivities in Las Vegas. Fellow newcomer Mortal Kombat 1 also shows up, carrying the NetherRealm torch in its Ev??o debut.

Guilty Gear Strive rounds out the expected giants, as the presumably largest 2D anime fighter around, and SNK gets an entrant in with The King of Fighters XV. Anime players get even more to play in Las Vegas, as Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes both secured slots.

The big draw for old fans and newcomers alike is the throwback game, an utter classic: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. This year's throwback game is one that means a lot to the history of fighting g??ames, and Evo will be hosting a tournament celebrating t?he classic title. With how much reverence there is for this one, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing who shows up for the next fight.

A new venue appears

There are more changes in store for Evo, including a new location. The West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center will now play host to Evo, and t?he show floor will be open all three days. Publisher booths, artist alley, and more will be open all three days, rather than just Friday or Saturday. The BYOC area will also apparently be larger than ever.

The Evo Showcase returns for panels and publisher news again too, as does the Evo Community Stage. Plus, the Evo ticket will now get you into both the arena and the general show floor, which is a nice shift. Al??l eight games will take place on the? arena stage this year, so no more splitting it out.

Tickets go live at the Evo site, so you can find all the attendance info there if you want to show up live in-person. It's an overall fairly predictable lineup, but that's by no means a bad thing; fighting games are really good r?ight now, and the mixture of new ent??ries and familiar standards here should hopefully make for a stellar Evo 2024.

The post Here’s the Evo 2024 featured tournament lineup appeared first on Destructoid.

There was a moment this weekend, in the middle of a particularly lengthy set of Tekken 8 with a friend, where I remembered half the reason I love Tekken. I??t was a brutally c?lose bout, and this round came right down to the wire.

It was so close, in fact, that we initiated two slow-motion finishes. The Tekken team had implemented this feature for Tekken 7 as a way to highlight those nail-biter "who lands the hit" moments. We?? got two of them, and well, you can see for yourself how that went here:

Beautiful. Tekken is, for my money, one of the most consistently fun fighting games around. It's the sort of game that I think anyone can pick up and, within a few seconds, enjoy. Partly thanks to a relatively simplified control scheme, ??laid out around just four buttons, matches feel centered on the punches and kicks, much more tangible and understandable elements to contend with than fireballs, massive floating swords, or other mechanics.

That's not to say Tekken is an easy game to learn because, my goodness, everyone will tell you that's not the case. Sure, it's easy to mash some buttons and have a good time in Tekken. But learning Tekken, improving proficiency, climbing the ladder? That's a different story altogether. And what I've felt over my first weekend playing Tekken 8 is that, while that c??limb is not any less daunting, each step is more helpfully laid out than ever.

Welcome to the King of Iron Fist

Going into Tekken 8, I wasn't sure who I would pick up and gel with; Asuka was my T7 main, though I'd just as easily bounce around to whoever caught my eye. I spent some time playing a round or two as every member of the T8 cast and gravitate??d towards Reina, the newcomer with a bit of Heihachi Mishima style in h??er moves and on-screen presence. I determined I was going to "get good at Reina." Oh boy.

It's i??mportant to note here that Reina is a fairly complex character. I wouldn't try and pit her against, say, the many stances of Lei Wulong. But she's a powerful, stance-heavy character who relies on both knowled??ge and dexterity. It's been a while since the words "Electric Wind God Fist" meant much to me, but it quickly became my world in the training lab.

So, after testing some ideas and really, really rough strings in matches against friends, I decided it was time to hit the lab. Combo challenges and other helpful tools have become commonplace in fighting games, and I was glad to see them in Tekken 8. Bandai Namco even has one of my favorite features, a percu?ssive beat for button presses while watching a combo demo, so you can hear the timing. I've been able to internalize strings probably twice as?? fast as normal thanks to that alone.

What I was surprised to see, though, was the wealth of additional tools for lear?ning in-game. Because it's not just some combo challenges and a quick character dossier. Right there in the ??menu was something called Punishment Training, a phrase I've usually reserved for holidays and special occasions.

In Punishment Training, you can practice different options your character has to punish others. Yo?ur foe whiffs their punch? Here's a good combo-starter to hit them with. Get caught by a sweep? Have a rising jab to counter. It's all very easy to read and understand. Even better, unlike the combo challenges, these focus on pra?ctical application. They encourage you to read and respond in kind.

Play it back for me

The lab options alone are already great, but replays add the cherry on top. A feature that was added to Tekken 7 also returns for 8, the Replay Tips. While watching a replay in Tekken 8, the system provides automated advice, informing you what options you could have resorted to in certain situation?s.

Now, in my own replays, some of these amount to "tech the throw, dummy." But I've already seen others get some really fascinating, insightful hints from the system on their own replays. Add in the ability to "take over" the re?play, and you've got a built-in training simulation, a what-if machine that makes it easy to s??pot-practice mistakes.

Now, I know that going into the lab and doing practice is key to getting better. I know this. But it's not always an easy thing to do, day after day, on the road to getting better at something as complex and competitive as a one-on-one fighting game. So, having these tools lay out the methods for improvement so neatly and effectively really helps when it comes to options. Now, wha??t about motivation?

The quest to become stronger

Traditionally, a big barrier to personal fighting game improvement isn't just the complexity, mechanical dexterity, or even the repetition; it can also be a socia??l pressure. For some folks, myself included, it's draining t??o get off work, turn on the PlayStation, and get bodied by a King for an hour or two. Even if I know I'm learning, the "You Lose" screen gets old, especially if you know there's a human being on the other side.

Ultimately, the piece de resistance of all this, at least to me, is Arcade Quest. It's a new mode introduced for Tekken 8, as a sort of alternative story route. Rather than the cinematic, in-universe tale spun in the main Story Mode, Arcade Quest lets you make an extremely Xbox 360 avatar and go on a shonen anime journey to become the greatest Tekken player around, hot off the heels of Tekken 8's launch.

Yes, it's a bit meta. But it really, really works. Progression in Tekken 8's ??Arcade Quest involves going to arcades and beating up the locals, the same way that Zoey Handley infamously got emplo??yed here at Destructoid.

I've only played a little bit of Arcade Quest, but I'm already enamored with the ways it so ea??sily tricks me ??into enjoying the Ranked grind. Here, I'm fighting CPU opponents, made to look like real ones, with their own characters and skills. Over time, I can earn points and rank up, through a progression path that mirrors the Ranked mode online.

Everything is fundamentally the same, but it's removing the feeling of dropping repeat games to humans. Here, I can just grind against the CPU for a bit. There is, for whatever reason, less dread in the pit of my stomach booting up Arcade Quest than hopping into the Ranked queue. And if the ultimate goal is making my beautiful Nickelodeon-looking avatar a true champion in this fictional Tekken-obsessed world, all the better.

Ascending to Ruler, he thinks, wistfully

As I wrote above, I've pretty much settled on Reina. I firmly beli?eve that, end of day, you should pick the character who's got the buttons you like to push the most. And Reina has good buttons. She's got this one move where you dash, and then uppercu?t, and then spin-kick in the air. I have not landed it once, but when I do, I hope it feels the way I imagine some people feel at the summits of mountains.

Really, that's what it's about. The climb. Much as I like to think I enjoy it, I do need those methods to convince me to pick up the stick (or controller, or hitbox) and stay with it. Tekken 8 makes that really easy. It's got incredible practice and learning tools. Plus, a single-player mode that wants you to feel like the protagonist in a Tekken brand-deal battle anime.

Fighting games have been having a bit of a renaissance over the last few years. Street Fighter is back in action, Guilty Gear hit its Strive, and even more niche entries like Melty Blood and Under Night have seen an uptick in visibility. It's good to see that Tekken is taking all that momentum from the long-running success of 7 and putting it towards 8. This isn't a review, per se; it's just me saying damn, it feels good to be playing some good-ass Tekken.

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Bandai Namco has issued an update this morning, addressing matchmaking errors and crashes that popped up on launch night for Tekken 8.

The latest entry in the Tekken series went live last night, and I hopped on for a few rounds with friends myself—said pals were playing on PC, and I was on PlayStatio??n 5. It was quite surprising when we continuously ran into issues with ??crashing while trying to create and run an online lobby match. Whether PC-to-PC, or on crossplay, both platforms kept seeing crashes.

It doesn't look like we were alone in this, either. Players were posting about it on various social forums, sites were starting to write about it, and Katsuhiro Harada himself made a statement. Per the Tekken official account, it was due to "a high concentration of users connecting to matching and competition servers." Which reads to me as, dang, Tekken 8 might have been a bit more popular at launch than they expected. Anecd??otally, I saw it hovering in the top sellers of Steam last night, so ??that's something.

An update is live for Tekken 8 matchmaking

Now, this morning, the Tekken team says a fix is live,?? and onl?ine experiences "should now be much smoother."

"Errors and crashes that occurred during online matching and matches have been resolved by server modifications and enhancements," said Harada in a post this morning. "Thank you for your cooperation in reporting!"

That's good news for Tekken fans, including myself. Because honestly, when the game was live and working, I was having a blast with Tekken 8. I know we're in an upswing era for fighting games right now, but Tekken was the series that weathered the storm of harsher years for brawlers; Tekken 7 was, at least for me, always a respite during leaner years fo??r fight?ing games.

So legitimately, I'm hoping this fix bandages all the problems, because I'm quite eager to get back to working on my Jun Kazama. Here's hoping the servers are now stable enough to support some Good Ass Tekken.

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2023 was a hell of a year for fighting games, with Street Fighter 6, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Mortal Kombat 1 all releasing. Now Tekken 8 is imminent, and that m??eans it's time for the marketing to ramp up.

New character trailers have been dropping weekly, culminating in the 2023 Tekken World Tour, which saw the opening for the upcoming Bandai Namco fighter released. However, it ??also announced the first wave of DLC, includi??ng a huge surprise character rejoining the ranks.

Eddy Gordo confirmed as Tekken 8's first DLC character

Announced at the end of the Tekken 8 opening movie, which was released on the Bandai Nam??co YouTube channel, Tek?ken 3's Eddy Gordo will be the first round of Tekken 8 content.

Eddy is slated for a Spring 2024 release. Three other characters are also being teased for Tekken 8 Season 1. The names and specific release dates of those characters have yet to be annou?nced??.

Eddy is a fan-fa??vorite who was one of the marquee characters of 1997's Tekken 3. He's a ca??poeira master who was falsely imprisoned for the murder of his father. Eddy breaks out of prison to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament to convince the Mishima Zaibatsu to help his quest for revenge, but he eventually learns Kazuya Mishima is his father's killer.

Since Tekken 3, Eddy has appeared in every ??game, though his appearances in Tekken 4 and 5 were limit??ed to being a hidden character. For those games, Christie Monteiro was the resident capoeira fighter.

Eddy would return as a full-fledged fighter in Tekken 6, working alongside the Tekken Force with Kazuya's son, Jin Kazama. In Tekken 7, Eddy remains on the hunt for Kazuya, though his story mode sees him contend??ing with Lucky Chloe instead.

??For fans, Eddy's appearance is a welcome inclusion. Many had taken note? in the months leading up to release that while Tekken 3 mainstays like Jin, Hwoarang, and Xiaoyu were in the game, Eddy was missing.

Developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Tekken 8 is set six months after Tekken 7. The game promises to be the conclusion of the ongoing Mishima narrative, as it focuses on a final battle between Kazuya Mishima and ?Jin Kazama.

Tekken?? 8 releases January 26, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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Bandai Namco just released a very special five-minute recap of the history of the Mishima clan, to hype us up for Tekken 8's release on January 26. And it's narrated by none other than Succession's own Brian Cox.

What's so special about Brian Cox narrating Tekken?

Any recap would be more than welcome at this point. Some Tekken fans weren't even alive when the OG Tekken came out, and ?the plotline gets highly convoluted sometimes, but the extra layer of awesome here is the presence of Bri?an Cox.

So what about it? You might think this is yet another out-of-touch promo by a Hollywood actor whose only? knowledge of the game comes from the teleprompter sitting right in front of him. Half of that is likely true, as I doubt Brian Cox knows what a Korean Backdash is, but he has a surprising spiritual connection to this series that makes this work perfectly for people who love both properties.

That's because, over the past five years or so, he's starred in Succession, a show that feels like an American version of Tekken that replaces all the complex physical combos with clever writing that's equally as devastating. Cox plays Logan Roy in Succession, a callous old man whose seat on the throne of megacorp Waystar | Royco is highly disputed by? hi??s progeny. Whether or not he noticed �or even cared �when filming that little video, Cox is the American version of Heihachi.

Mishima clan, TL;DR

The main plotline of the Tekken series is about Heihachi Mishima, the grandfather and (former) head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, ?Kazuya, his son, and Jin Kazama, Kazuya's estranged son.

Up until the end of Tekken 7, the three fought for the leadership of the company. At the end of Tekken 7, however, Kazuya seemingly manages to kill Heihachi, the series' longstanding villain for good, and finally takes over the corporation. The plot of Tekken 8 revolves around the battle between Kazuya, the new herald of darkness, and Jin, who will hopefully turn out ??to be the champion of light.

Tekken 8 will come out on January 26 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series? X|S, and PC.

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It's the beginning of a new year, and despite being a weaker month usually for releases, there's a selection of highly anticipated January 2024 games to look forward to. From intense fights in Tekken 8 to the calmer, puzzle-based Another Code: Recollection, there's something for everyone.

Another Code: Recollection (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

It's a delight when a lesser-known game gets another chance on a newer platform. Another Code: Recollection includes two DS and Wii puzzle games (one never released in North Ameri?ca) about Ashley, a 13-year-old girl looking for answers. She's uncovering the truth about her parents as you solve puzzles on the stunning remote Blood Edward Island. There's new voice acting, visuals, and music to make the game feel more modern on the Nintendo Switch.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5)

Publisher: PlayStation
Developer: Naughty Dog
Price: $49.99 (or $9.99 for the PS4-PS5 upgrade)
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

Naughty Dog, whether you like it or not, is releasing a new remastered version of the PS4 game The Last of Us Part II. Thankfully, it won't be fu?ll price. If you have the PS4 game already, the upgrade only costs $9.99.

Despite the apprehension, this game does have a bunch of new features. First and foremost there's the roguelike survival mode called No Return. There will be plenty of enemies in your path, and a return to some familiar settings throughout the series?? so far. It will be all randomized.

We'll also gain access to the Lost Levels that lets us play early development workings from the game cut from the final product. Another impressive feat is that the game outputs 4K in Fidelity mode, adding higher quality visuals on-screen. Despite it being a remaster, it's arguably one of the most anticipated January 2024 games, due to the series' prestige alone. It's a shame the multiplayer game was canceled, however.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The turn-based RPG antics of Ichiban and his friends return in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. He'll be exploring Hawaii, battling thugs, and starting up a new village in a new Animal Crossing-inspired side mode. It has also been ??teased that this could be Kazuma Kiryu's farewell to the series as he's battling cancer. Get the tissues ready if you play this game.

As always, expect some drama and some bombastic comedic moments in Infinite Wealth just like past Yakuza and Like a Dragon games. If you play the last entry The Man Who Erased His Name, you can play a demo right now.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 18
Trailer

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is looking like a promising revival of a beloved Ubisoft franchise. This one's taking a 2D Metroidvania route with astonishing bosses, plenty of time powers to unlock, and exhilarating platforming from what the trailers have shown so far. "The combat system in The Lost Crown is extremely fluid and fast-paced," said our preview. Sargon has a quick light at??tack, a heavy attack t?hat takes longer to perform but deals more damage, a block, and a dash-style evade."

The combat looks fast and deadly with combos that have you soaring across the sky and cru??????????????????????????shing your foes to the ground. Hopefully, this game will live up to its potential when it releases on January 18.

Tekken 8 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Bandai Namco
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The epic fighting game series returns for this generation with Tekken 8. The visuals are enhanced, the stages are destructible, and the new Heat system will heighten each battle gre?atly. There will be 32 characters at launch.

Tekken 8 looks incredible. "The environments are filled to the brim with detail," said our preview. "The puddles in the New York stage reflect the li?ghts from Times Square’s advertisements, an?d the lighting from the neon signs stands out sharply on screen."

Unlike many other fighting games at launch, Tekken 8 is packed with content from day one. The story continues six months after the events of Tekken 7 as Jin and Kazuya fight it out in an awe-inspiring clash. There's also the all-new Arcade Quest, which has you playing as your own avatar and unfolding a narrative as we battle it out? among a series of arcades. It sounds like a great way to learn the game for newcom??ers to the series.

Honorable mentions

There are even more January 2024 games to expect, including another fighting game and a new Tamagotchi game exclusive to iOS platforms.

• Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom (iOS) - January 4
• Laika: Aged Through Blood (Switch) - January 11
• Sovereign Syndicate (PC) - January 15
• Bulletstorm VR (PS5, PC, Meta Quest 2) - January 18
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - January 18
• Enshrouded (PC) - January 24
• Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - January 25
• Under Night In-Birth 2 [Sys:Celes] (PS4, PS5, PC, Switch) - January 25
• Rugby 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - January 30
• Palworld (PC) - January

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Bandai Namco is continuing with their Tekken 8 character highlight trailers, this ??time putting the spo??tlight on the enigmatic Yoshimitsu.

Fun fact (not really), I never really got into the Tekken series, but whenever I did play, it was either using Mokujin (if available) or Yoshimitsu. That’s largely because Bandai Namco has a Yoshimitsu in the Soul Calibur series. They may or may not be the same guy. I’m not really up ?on my lore.

This trailer is so rad. One part of it harkens back to Yoshimitsu’s victory cinematic against Bryan Fury. There are probably other references in there, but as I said, I’m a dilettante. Most of the trailer focuses on a demonstration of t??he Manji Ninjitsu fighting style, as well as the thirsty Cursed Blade Yoshimitsu. The trailer also caps off with his rage art, as is customary in these trailers.

Yoshimitsu’s design changes heavily in each Tekken game. While the theme is always cyborg ninja, he varies from being more samurai or buglike with each iteration. This time around, ??we got a good mix with some cosmic highlights. The armor is obviously Japanese-inspired but has a very chitinous lo?ok to it. Even with the new design, the over-the-top chivalry and weird goofiness are intact.

While this trailer is a deep dive into the character, we already knew that Yoshimitsu would be in Tekken 8. Truly, it would be strange if he wasn't. He's part of a pretty hefty cast of 32 characters in the base game.

Tekken 8 releases o??n PS5, Xbox Series X|S, a??nd PC on January 26, 2024. The PS5 demo arrives on December 14, 2023, followed by PC and Xbox on December 21, 2023.

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Bandai Namco has announced that their upcoming fight-’em-up, Tekken 8, will get a demo on December 14 on PS5. If you’re not? the PS5 type, the Xbox and PC demos will arrive on December 21.

Excited about Tekken 8, but the January 26, 2024 launch date is too far away? Lace up your fighting�fists,?? you’ll be able to get an early taste soon. Ho?w much of a taste? That’s not really said. In fact, I gave you pretty much all the facts we have in the first paragraph. There’s a demo. It’s out soon.

Tekken 8 is the first new game in the series since Tekken 7 launched in arcades in 2015, followed by a home release in 2017. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it features an impressive cast of 32 charac??ters, most of whic?h are returning favorites, while a few are new characters (or a variation of one in Jack-8’s case.)

I’ve always played fighting games, but I’ve never really been a fighting gamer. I remember when Tekken was huge on the PS1. As a launch title, Tekken Tag Tournament was elevated to near-mythical status for a while. I’ve played them, but never to any really deep extent. I was more stuck on Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. These days, I’m mainly holding onto hope that we’ll one day get a new Bloody Roar, but with the state that fighting games are in right now, it doesn’t seem too fr??iendly to any series that isn’t already massively successful. If it ever was. Plus, it’s now owned by Konami, so that’s a problem.

Tekken 8 releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on January 26, 2024. The PS5 demo arrives on Decem??ber 14, 2023, followe?d by PC and Xbox on December 21, 2023.

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Tekken 8 is just around the corner, and Bandai? Namco ?released a glimpse of Leo's glorious combos and eccentric personality in a trailer Wednesday. Their stylish red and white jacket shines as they show off their impressive new counter.

The German fighter Leo Kliesen is back in Tekken 8 with their Baji Quan fighting style. With their hatred of the main antagonist Kazuya Michima, it makes sense if they make an appearance in the s??tory mode. With the codename "Seeker of Truth," they'd likely join the battle to find out more about their murdered mother and missing f??ather.

We didn't get many details in Tekken 7 as they were sidetracked by a love-stricken Yoshimitsu, but in Tekken 6, we learned that their mother worked for the Mishima Za?ibatsu and G Corporation.

Leo is looking sharp

Not much seems to have changed with Leo's moveset, except for the previously mentioned counter. They'll still stomp their foes' toes and have an elaborate combo set up with their punches and kick??s. It's been a few years since I've stepped into the shoes of Leo but one new move seems to be an impactful swirling kick in the air, which is shown in the trailer.

They also has a new grappling ho??ok that's used for Leo's Rage Art. Perhaps this will be used in combos too, but we haven't seen it implemented yet.

The trailer also shows their ??adorable carefree personality as they're surprised by the Coffee Queen's name. They stagger back like an anime character as shown in the screenshot abo?ve.

We'll be able to play as the German blonde Leo when Tekken 8 releases on January 26, just a few months away. They'll be fighting against many combatants, like the first French fighter in Tekken Victor Chevalier and a mysterious Heihachi-like character named Reina, and the rest of the healthy launch roster for the new Tekken.

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Tekken 8 may not be launching until January, but Banda?i Namco announced the 32nd an??d final combatant of the game's roster today. Ladies and gentlemen, enter the acrobatic Taido specialist, Reina.

Tekken 8 Director Kohei Ikeda took to the PlayStation Blog to detail how the character went from conception to reality. Bandai Namco also dropped a new Tekken 8 trailer today sh??owcasing the mysterious fighter's skill set.

The trailer opens with Reina sitting on a throne of sorts before the nickname "Purple Lighting" is emb?lazoned across the screen. You quickly see why the moniker is fitting.

We see flashy snippets of bouts versus Feng, Hwoarang, Jun, Xiaoyu, Leroy, and Lars. All of wh??om are easily dispatched with a flurry of flips and kicks. Series lead Jin Kazama then steps in to show the latest entrant some manners.

Heihachi's protégé

As this is a Reina trailer, that doesn't exactly work out for Jin. But it's here that we get a tease as to what Reina's place is in Tekken 8's story. Jin asks "Who are you...?" To ?which Reina playfully replies "Jin senapai. We finally ha??ve our chance to fight!" As the two characters begin to battle, Reina easily disposes of Jin with an impressive set of attacks and combos.

While Reina's heritage is a purposeful mystery at this point, it's worth throwing out there that Purple Lightning may be a telling nickname. The use of lightning is a bit of a calling card for members of the Mishima family of fighters. And when Kazuya enters the trailer after Jin, there's an obvious distaste for one of the overarching villains of the Tekken series. The duo even leads with what appears to be opposing lightning attacks as their bout begins. And there may even be a tease of the new character possessing the Devil Gene that plagues some of the seri??es' most important combatants.

In Kohei Ikeda's blog post, he indicates that Reina "plays a vital role in Tekken 8’s story". Ikeda also teases that the character "exudes a charismatic sense of evil, reflecting her character’s duality in both personality and fighting style." So it will remain unclear until? the game launches which side of this family feud the character falls in line with (if any), but t??he implication definitely leans towards Reina being a potential missing heir of Heihachi Mishima.

With the recent reveal of the French fighter Victor Chevalier, and now Reina, we are at 32 confirmed characters. If you're interested in a breakdown of each, check out our complete list of all the Tekken 8 fighters revealed so far??. The latest entry in the historic fighting series launches on PC, PlaySta?tion 5, and Xbox Series X|S on January 26.

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The Tekken series is getting its first French fighter, as Victor Chevalier is joining the Tekken 8 roster alongside a new Paris-themed stage.

Announced on Thursday, game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada added context for the character on social media.

"Victor is actually the first French fighter for the TEKKEN franchise," said Harada. "I have had the idea of a French character in my mind for a long time and it finally came to fruition. Thanks to Vincent Cassel for inspiring me and for voicing him. And the stage is Paris itself, where I took my first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago?."

Oui, oui, oui!

As Harada noted, Chevalier is voiced by French actor Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, La Haine). Victor Chevalier uses a blade, knife, and pistol as his weaponry. He also teleports across the screen as he slashes his opponents. Bandai Namco knows how to make older men look badass (remember Leroy Smith?).

The trailer also points out that Victor has a history with Raven, saying to him, "You've go??tten pretty good, Raven."

A new stage set in Paris for the Tekken 8 Victor character

In this new Tekken 8 trailer, we see? the action taking place on a boat moving across the river Seine. Harada said he took his first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago, inspiring this stage to come to life in game.

As you fight with Victor and other Tekken 8 fighters on the Paris stage, you'll see the sights like t?he Eifel Tower in the background. Hopefully, there's a nighttime section for the final round, in which it sparkles in gold lights—though there w?asn't a hint towards that in the trailer.

It's interesting that Tekken 8 has a Paris-themed level because Street Fighter 6 has one too, set closer to the Eiffel Tower during a festival. It must be a good time for virtual brawling in France. Nevertheless, Tekken 8 releases on January 26 for the?? PS5, Xbox Series X, Xb??ox Series S, and PC.

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Bandai Namco revealed the next four fighters set to join the eventual full roster of 32 when Tekken 8 releases. This brings the total revealed fighter count to 30, with the final two character revea?ls coming on November 2 and November 12. Fan-favorite character Devil Jin is one of the four characters revealed ??today, alongside Zafina, Lee Chaolan, and Alisa Bosconovitch.

Four new Fighters join Tekken 8

Devil Jin returns as the “Blank Wings of Ruin,�Jin’s demonic side coming from the devil gene in his blood and the embodiment of him living with h?is sins. Devil Jin’s appearance matches his name, and his fighting skills are beyond human capabilities.

The “Mystic St??argazer�Zafina brings back her unique fight style rooted in her warrior heritage and her spiritual abilities as a mystical astrologist. Her methods are as old as her ??lineage, using Ancient Assassination Arts in her attacks.

Lee Chaolan fights wi??th Martial Arts, but his true power comes from the Violet Suit, a one-of-a-kind battle suit tha??t uses sophisticated technology and unleashes attacks that reflect his “Silver haired-Demon�persona.

Alisa Bosconovitch is the “Destroying Automaton�developed by the brilliant scientist Dr. Bosconovitch. Alisa’s fighting skills come from her high-mobility ??flight suit and her arsenal of technological weaponry.

Tekken 8 is schedule??d to release on January 26, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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If you're not ready for a serious brawl, step back, because Feng Wei is returning to the arena in Tekken 8. Bandai Namco is her??e with another reveal for the next entry, pairing the announcement with info on the next Closed Beta Test. You'll get a chance to play again on October 20, 2023, so read on for details and see the God Fist in action below.

Feng Wei first made his way into the Tekken series in 2005's Tekken 5. He's been playable in every subsequent entry, and now he's looking for a vengeful second shot at Leroy Smith. He suffered a major defeat at the hands of Leroy in the previous tournament. To make up for that loss, Ni??na Williams has offered Feng another opportunity in exchange for his support of G Corp. 

Trial by combat

For those interesting in trying out Feng Wei and Tekken 8, registrations are now open for the new Closed Beta Test. 19 characters will be available during the test, including the newly-announced Feng Wei. Players will get a chance to dig into cross-platform online matches, and will be among the first to try the new Tekken Fight Lounge.

This is essentially a lobby where players can interact, create custom avatars, set up matchmaking, and more. Among the spots you'll find within it are the Battle Area, Customization Shop, Tekken Dojo, and Beach. Tekken 3's ridiculous Tekken Ball mini-game is also back for anyone who wants to brawl ??dodgeball-style. 

You can check out the schedule and sign up here ahead of the test's October 20 kickoff. Tekken 8 is set to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series?? X|S, and PC ?on January 26, 2024. 

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Tekken 8 has been hotly anticipated since it was revealed, and now we finally have a firm release date to pin down. At Gamescom 2023, a new trailer confirmed that the game will launch on January 26, 20?24.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_gUIaRQ8I

Accompanying the release date, Tekken 8 producer Katsuhiro Harada teased a new mode called Arcade Quest. The trailer footage shows players making a custom avatar to bring into a virtual arcade, though we didn't see much more than that. We can confirm Arcade Mode is str??ictly a single player mode, so we know that much at le?ast.

Additionally, the presentation not??ed th??at we'll see "all new gameplay that actually has some AI kind of infused learning aspects to it". Those words are as interesting as they are vague. Will we train characters as we advance through Arcade Quest? Your guess is as good as mine.

Also, while not a specific highlight of the trailer, our own Zoey "The Yellow Dart" Handley pointed out that Yoshimitsu makes his Tekken 8 debut here. As someone who mostly grew up with Soulcalibur, I always love to see him.

We'll learn more about everything Tekken 8 offers when it launches on January 26, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S?, and PC.

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Katsuhiro Harada, the director of Tekken 8 and long-time veteran of the series, has responded to what he refers to as "silly threats." In a recent tweet, he hi??ts back at online trolls with a pretty lengthy statement?? about what harassment leads to.

In a recent post on Twitter, Harada decided to give his take on the threats that have been coming his way online. One such example comes from a no-named user who says they will hit the director "with a Burning Hammer" (a move used by Tekken wrestler King) if Tekken 8 doesn't feature Eddy Gordo.

//twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/1689456??340564111361

Harada makes it clear that, serious or not, such threats affect he and "everyone at FGC" (fighting game community). In a three-point post, he outlines what comments like these leads to. Number one being that security is bumped up, which "increases operating costs and increases the burden o??n the players" who attend.

Motivation also decreases

He goes on to say that "company founders, board members, and lawyers 'Don't like to be intimidated'," and that he does not "adopt the views of those who use 'We' when expressing their opinions," as tho?ugh such people represent all fans.

The end result is that studios simply have no motivation to carry on making games when threats are being made. Tekken 8 is h?ighly? anticipated, and the last thing fans want or need is for the team to not want to keep working on it.

Yet still people persist. Immediately below Harada's tweet, one user says they will be spending their money elsewhere because companies like Bandai Namco easily forget the "narrow demographic who, mostly, go out of their way to afford" a "luxury product." Harada's response to this is a bit more... direct. So, as he's said before, don't ask him for shit.

The post Tekken 8 director fires back at ‘silly threats’ over the roster appeared first on Destructoid.

The highly anticipated Tekken 8 recently caused a stir among fans when they noticed that the End User License Agreement on Steam made mention of the controversial anti-tamper software Denuvo. Fortunately, game director Katsuhiro Harada took to Twitter to announce he has “no plans to introduce Denuvo or anything else.�/p>

//twitter.com/Harada_??TEKKEN/status/1688677772116504576

According to Harada, the mention of Denuvo is likely because the EULA is a copy of Tekken 7’s. Although Harada’s Tweet isn’t a definitive confirmation that Tekken 8 won't?? use the anti-tampe??r software, it is a good sign.

[caption id="attachment_394394" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Tekken 8 could avoid some of Tekken 7’s problems

Developers use Denuvo to prevent (or at least stall) games from being cracked and pirated. Ideally, it shouldn't affect gameplay. Nevertheless, both players and developers have previously complained about the anti-tamper software, with some developers eventually removing it from their games. Denuvo has acknowledged the negative press, though the issues surrounding it continue.

Tekken 7 was well recieved when it released in 2015. However, it did suffer from frame rate drops and other performance issues on PC. Harada attributed this to the game’s anti-tamper software, which happened to be Denuvo. This naturally explains why fans felt upset about the mention of Denuvo in Tekken 8's EULA, and why Harada is so ada?mant on avoiding it.

//twitte??r.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/984835?707209375744

Though Harada has suggested players “sit quietly� impatient fans have been exploiting the Closed Network Test t??o play beyond the test period. Tekken 8 will release on PC, PS??5, and Xbox Series X/S, though it ?has yet to receive a release date.

The post Tekken 8 won’t have Denuvo, according to Katsuhiro Harada appeared first on Destructoid.

Evo is a major event for fighting game tournaments and news. This year, we've seen updates announced for some of the biggest games in the genre, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1. The?re's even a brief teaser for SNK's next bout. ?Here's all the news at Evo 2023 you should know about.

[caption id="attachment_395265" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Street Fighter 6 x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

After a musical performance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song, Capcom announced a new crossover for Street Fighter 6. Starting August 8, there will be four skins for your custom cha??racters based on the radical reptiles, pizza-riffic emotes, new titles, stamps, mobile wallpaper, and came??ra frames. This bit of EVO 2023 news was one of the highlights of the show for me.

//youtu.be/TY-k6jYzXtg

A.K.I. joins the battle in Street Fighter 6

Capcom also teased its next Street Fighter 6 character, A.K.I. She looks twisted, and poisons your custom character in the trailer. No gameplay was ??shown, but we do?? know she'll be available sometime this Fall.

[caption id="attachment_395269" align="alignnone" width="1200"] S???creenshot via Mortal Kombat YouTube channel[/caption]

Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile are in Mortal Kombat 1

Three new characters were announced in a stellar Mortal Kombat 1 trailer. You'll be able to play as Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile when the game arrives on September 19, 2023. Ashrah is a surprising choice, as she hasn't been in the series since the PS2 game Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Regardless, she looks like she fits in with her brutal Fatality. Sareena is also coming back,?? but as a Kameo fighter this time around.

[caption id="attachment_395273" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via arcs??ystemworks YouTube chan??nel[/caption]

Johnny returns in Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3

Shirtless and ready to strike his foes, Johnny returns as the first character of Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3. He swings his katana with a quickening pace, and also unleashes cards, even turning people into them and slashing them up when? the ??opportunity arises. He'll be available to play on August 24.

Season Pass 3 will include one more character in 2023 and an additional two in 2024. It will also come with two more stages, mor?e color variants for your characters, and two extra colors for the Season 3 characters.

Arc System Works also confirmed that the game's reached 2.5 million players, making Guilty Gear Strive a huge success for the studio.

//youtu.be/cTyy0kgQ8Ug

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves hypes up the crowd

After The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown getting acclaim from fans and critics alike, the Fatal Fury series is returning with City of the Wolves. Not much was announced, but there was a little teaser by SNK, showcasing Terry ?and Rock Howard in the game. The graphics seem to be an upgrade too, with more visual details and improved lighting.

No releas??e date has been given, but SNK fittingly said it is "furiously in dev??elopment."

[caption id="attachment_395281" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Scr??eenshot via SNK OFFICIAL YouTube channel[/caption]

The King of Fighters XV adds Najd and Duo Lon, and KOF XIII gets a re-release date

On August 8, Najd will be available as a DLC character in The King of Fighters XV. Duo Lon will then follow her sometime this Autumn, which starts on September? 23 and ends on December 21.

Additionally, The King of Fighters XIII Global Match will hit PS4 an??d Switch on November 16 with rollback?? netcode.

//youtu.be/30GpU_0A8Rg

Raven and Azucena join the Tekken 8 roster

Fan favorite character Raven and the coffee-obsessed newcomer Azucena are a part of the Tekken 8 roster. Raven is using his shadow skills that might remind you of Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu. Meanwhile, Azucena has an intriguing dodge feature with some tasty counters shown off in the trailer. Tekken 8 still has no release date attached.

[caption id="attachment_395287" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via RIo??t Game?s' YouTube channel[/caption]

League of Legends fighting game Project L adds Yasuo

The in-development 2v2 fighter Project L is adding the?? champion Yasuo into the mix. His move set includes a far-reaching sword and quick attacks in the ai?r. He can also release tornados and wind walls against his opponents.

"He can outplay with mix-ups?, he can go to the air for really technical combos, play defense with his wind wall, or honestly just win neutral with his huge normals," said lead champion designer Alex Jaffe. Sadly, no release date for Project L was announced amid all the news at Evo 2023.

//youtu.be/GYIOUxYBukw?t=354

Plankton is a new character in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

The tiny Plankton from Bikini Bottom is joining the bout in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 in a mech. He has all sorts of weaponry to fight off the likes of Aang, Reptar, and Spongebob SquarePants. He, alongside Squi??dward, will be a part of the main roster when the game launches later thi?s year.

//youtu.be/2Dc4F_fC0nc?t=42

Killer Instinct is getting a huge update

Cult-favorite Killer Instinct is getting a major update from Xbox Game Studios and Iron Galaxy for the first time in years. It will include better matchmaking, a balance update, and all-new 4K support on Xbox Series X|S. It will be coming this Fall. Now that Iron Galaxy and Xbox are working together on this, perhaps talk of a sequel could arise between the two companies after Rumbleverse's shutdown in February.

//youtu.be/m55Ju_OmSvU

Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes is bringing "Dramatic Stylish 2D Fighting Action" in 2024

After more than ten years and many versions, Under Night In-Birth is getting a sequel. It will be launching early next ye?ar for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Sorry, Xbox fans. Additionally, there will be rollback netcod??e.

Arc System Works says there will be "completely redesigned visuals" and "even more playable characters to be added" down the line. The trailer's description also touts that there will be "new moves and new battle systems" that further evolve the battle in Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbI26Ehde3g

GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising gets a release date

The release date for the sequel Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is November 30, as announced at Evo. As the festive season begins, we'll be battling it out as Gran and other characters in a th?ree-part story and a new mode called Grand Bruise. Additionally, there is crossplay and rollback netcode available in this new version of the game. More characters are available too, including Anila, Grimnir, Nier, and Siegfried.

//youtu.be/yKUH3zTNWMk

Maypul comes to Rivals 2

Finally, the fox-like combatant Maypul joins the Smash-like Rivals 2. She brings three different plants with her to t??he battle, including Lily, Terry, and Poppy. She'll also be the fastest character in the game. Maypul's combos look thrilling in the trailer itself. The game launches sometime next year.

That's it for Evo 2023 news cycle. Which fighting games are you most looking forward to next year, and will you be playing as Michelangelo in Street Fighter 6's avatar battles?

The post All the fighting game news from EVO 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekken 8 was originally announced in 2022, and a Closed Network Test was recently released on multiple platforms in July. To the dismay of the developers, some gamers have since cracked the CNT to play it in unintended ways. Bandai Namco is warning players against playing Tekken 8's cracked CNT, and those caught could face cons?equences.

[caption id="attachment_392950" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Be patient or risk a ban

Players with the cracked CNT can not only play the game offline, but continue to play it beyond the test period. In a Twitter post, Bandai Namco warned that this?? violates its Terms of Service and the Tekken World Tour's Code of Conduct.

//twitter.com/BNEesports/status/168597812?194877??0305

Unauthorized access to the CNT could result in a ban from the upcoming Tekken World Tour and other? official tournaments. In other words, competitive players may want to heed this warning. It is understandable why developers would emphasis this penalty in particular. Those playing the cracked version would have a headstart on practice, which could affect the results of official tournaments.

This isn't the only problem the CNT has caused, as it has also resulted in Tekken 8's partial roster leaking. Though Bandai Namco has officially announced 16 charact?ers?, the leak reveals a longer list of playable fighters.

It has certainly been a good time for fighting game fans. Street Fighter 6 launched to critical acclaim in June, and Mortal Kombat 1 will launch on September 19. Bandai Namco has not yet revealed a release date for Tekken 8.

The post Bandai Namco warns players to stop playing th??e Tekken 8 cracke??d test appeared first on Destructoid.

Each Tekken in the series is usually a landmark for console generations, with its spectacular graphics and superb game design, and that's certainly the case with Tekken 8. With its stunning lighting, entertaining new Heat system,? and crisp netcode, this entry is certainly going in the right direction with its closed network test. Get your fists ready if another test or the full game arrives ?soon. There are many reasons why I can't wait for the next battle.

[caption id="attachment_394395" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The next evolution of Tekken

The Tekken series has stepped it up again with its thrilling combat system. It keeps evolving, with each game adding a new compelling element; this time, it's the Heat system. The Heat Timer heightens the attack power of your character and enables you to chip damage away from foes even if they're blocking. You can only use it once per round, but it is key to your survival. Heat Smashes can be activated during the timer, letting you perform a flashy, yet powerful attack. It takes around a fifth of your opponent's health. The Heat System ups the sta??kes as it runs out, and the other player desperately blocks incoming strike?s for around 10-15 seconds.

That's not all about the Heat system, however. There are certain moves—like Jin's Heat Engager—that activate ??the timer automatically within a combo. Button mashers may hate this, but if you use it strategically, these moves can be effective at disrupting your foe's reign-of-terror combos. Another way to stop your foe from attacking is a Power Crush. It's a counter that's utilized to stop yourself from getting juggled. Rage Arts are also back and are flashy as ever.

Tekken 8 feels great to play with all-new moves and combos to initiate on your opponent. In the excellent training mode, you can get used to the precise timing with every strike if you want to link a combo. Tekken 8 shows awesome bread-and-butter combos to perf??orm on your enemies, and you can watch a video demo with the inputs on the screen. Combo challenges can also be shown through the UI, so you can reference th?em quickly. It's an approachable game for newbies who want to become intermediate players online.

How is the Tekken 8 netcode?

Despite Tekken 8 likely being many ??months away from release, the netcode during the alpha seems to be a su??ccess. Many games ran smoothly, as if the other player was sitting next to me in a local tourney. However, I did encounter a somewhat laggy game, despite there being five bars on my competitor.

[caption id="attachment_394396" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Damn, Tekken 8 is pretty

If you look at the trailers, you may believe there isn't a huge jump in graphical quality. Think again. Once you're playing it on a PS5, it's absolutely stunning. The facial animations of characters like Lee Chaolan are astonishing as he exaggerates his mouth and eyes. Additionally, you can see the intense hatred in Kazuya's face through his eyes on the main menu; it's actually haunting whenever you boot up the ga?me.

The environments are filled to the brim with detail. The puddles in the New York stage reflect the lights from Times Square's advertisements, and the lighting from the neon signs stands out sharply on screen. You can even see the haze of smoke in the distance, and the crackling of the earth beneath your competitor's feet. The action is all in a wonderful 60 frames per second as well. You could name it as one of this generation's prettiest titles. Thank goodness there isn't a PS4 or Xbox One version holding it back.

As each battle continues, you'll see the sweat pouring from the characters as they desperately fight to win. Paul's sleeve breaks apart as he readies up his Rage Art and it remains that way for the rest of the matc?h. Bandai Namco seems to pulling out all of the stops t?o make this as stunning as it can be.

Another neat factor of the game is the unique intros for rivalries in Tekken 8. When friends Lee and Paul face each other, they cross fists, breaking apart the glass under them in the Arena. It looks similar to how each Tekken trailer begins. This addition is a nice touch for long-time fans and adds further inten?sity to the fight ahead. The same happens with? Jin and Kazuya as well.

Tone down the distracting music

Tekken 8's soundtrack is more like something you'd hear on a dance floor than an arena. The dubstep is obnoxious and distracting for some of the tracks included in this closed test, especially in the Urban Square stage. However, there is a standout banger for the Yakushima stage. It feels like a more rounded composition with gorgeous strings, stunning vocals, and a pumping backbeat that keeps the song moving forward. That's until the final round creeps in, and there's a blast of incessant dubstep within an otherwise great track. If this trend continues into the full game, I'm prepa??red to lower the music volume to 0 and put on my own playlist.

The electronic composition for the Arena stage is also decent but, in my opinion, goes way too hard with the bass. So far there are no tracks that come close to bangers like "Heat Haze Shadow" or "Infinite Azure" from Tekken 7 or Tekken 5's "Moonlit Wilderness."

Tekken 8's stellar so far

Bandai Namco hasn't pulled its punches with Tekken 8. Every character is animated incredibly well, and the action feels fluid, even more so than in Tekken 7. The new mechanics like the Heat Timer adds to the formula, creating a more fast-paced fighter that will be thrilling to watch at EVO and other tournaments. The music is a somewhat letdown as it's gone way too hard on the electronic and dubstep from past entries, but Tekken 8 is a promising fighting game I? can't wait to get my han??ds on.

The post Hands-on: Tekken 8 seems ready for the nex?t battle appeared first on Destructoid.

The Evo 2023 Friday Showcase appears to be shaping up to be quite the spectacle. In a post on the Evo website, the full schedule for day one ?of Evo 2023 has been revealed.

The fun starts at 10:00 a.m. with what Evo calls a surprise-filled panel featuring Arc System Works. The developers are absolute monsters—in a good way—when it comes to fighting games, responsible for the Guilty Gear franchise and the popular 2022 release DNF Duel.

At 12:30 p.m., a surprise developer will go on-stage for an "exciting announcement." No details yet, but the blog say it's a first look at a special reveal. Evo co-founder Seth Killian will host an interview with Street Fighter pro MenaRD, discussing their history with the Street Fighter franchise.

Hidden Variable Studios will then show off what's next for Skullgirls at 1:10 p.m. At 1:45 p.m. we'll get a look at the upcoming Rivals of Aether 2 followed by a rapid-fire reel of indie fighting gam??e trailers at 2:0?0 p.m.

Rounding out the first part of the showcase is a look at Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's history at Evo. This looks like it's going to be a blast, especially with the host, UMVC3 Evo champion Justin Wong.

Those interested in seeing the full schedule for Evo 2023 can check it out here.

Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Killer Instinct, and Mortal Kombat 11

At 3;00 p.m. Capcom will take the stage with a Street Fighter 6 developer panel. I'm sure there will be a focus on the recently released Rashid as well as what we can look forward to in the future for SF6.

Next up, Bandai Namco will show off the upcoming Tekken 8. T8 will also b?e playable at Bandai Namco's booth through Evo 2023, so be sure to swing by and check it out.

As the Friday Showcase winds down, four of the best players in Killer Instinct history will face off. The KI 10-Year Anniversary Invitational will have the players compete in a special exhibition to celebrate a decade of KI.

Finally, Mortal Kombat 11 will get a proper final chapter at Evo. MK11U will ??be the ??first Top 6 of Evo 2023 as it closes out Day 1 of the event.

The post Evo 2023 Friday Showcase will have news, ??updates, and surprises appeared first on Destructoid.

The exorcist enters the ring

Bandai Namco has just unveiled the next fighter returning for Tekken 8. Coming back after his introduction in Tekken 7 is Claudio Serafino, the closest we'll ever get to an Italian Final Fantasy protagonist.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSFaTCoVJ2I

Who is this literal godsend?

Claudio is the greatest exorcist in the world and de facto leader of the Archers of Sirius, an order of exorcists that I assume has been KO'ing demons for centuries. He entered Tekken lore in Tekken 7 as Heihachi Mishima contac?ted his group to get help against Devil Kazuya. Claudio reluctantly joined Heiachi's organization, but his tenure with Mishima Zaibatsu comes to a close by the end? of the game as Heihachi believes he's finally gotten rid of Kazuya.

While we don't know anything about the plot of Tekken 8, we do know Kazuya is still very unsurprisingly alive in it, so Claudio's service may becom?e of use to Heichachi once agai??n.

But really, how will Claudio play?

For the most part, Claudio is a well-rounded character. What makes Claudio special is "Starburst". That's Claudio's unique stance that he can enter once he lands certain hits. Starburst arms him with an array of empowered single moves and combos that turn him into a fearsome enemy. The trailer shows off some of Claudio's moves and an unbelievably cool Mortal Kombat-esque arena.

The character doesn't seem to have gone through many technical changes. Still, his combos are now adorned by animation effects that look straight out of Final Fantasy. The trailer concludes with Claudio absolutely obliterating poor Bryan Fury with a mystical arrow seemingly capable of murdering the devil himself. That's not just for the video �it's just his regular special move.

Tekken 8 is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. Bandai Namco expects it to launch in late 2023 or early 2024. Be sure to check out the previous trailers for Hwoarang, Jin Kazama, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, King, Paul Phoenix, Jack-8, Lars Alexandersson, Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Ling Xiayou, Asuka Kazama, Leroy Smith, and Lili Rochefort.

The post Here’s our first big look at Tekken 8’s sexy exorcist Claudio appeared first on Destructoid.

It'll be extremely limited

Bandai Namco announced today that fans can now sign up (right here) for the limited Tekken 8 Closed Network Test. The announcement indicates participants will be chosen based on a first-come, first-served basis, but also mentions it?? will be a very limited test.

While all platforms will have access to the Closed Network Test from July 28th at 10AM until July 31st at 9AM CEST, Playstation 5 participants only will get an extra weekend from July 21st at 10AM until July 24th at 9AM CEST. Those playing on a console will not require an online subscription service (like PlayStation Plus or X?box Live Gold) to participate in the test.

In anticipation of the test, Bandai Namco released a new trailer

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh5udl01YXc

If you were lucky enough to play in the closed alpha tests in March, you will notice an all-new "Heat" battle system has been implemented based on feedback from the alpha. This new system removes the old "Heat Energy" mechanic and adds a whole ne?w element to the action.

All playable characters will have a new "Heat Smash" command for use with the ??new system.

[caption id="attachment_385624" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

The July closed network test will have all currently announced content - here's a recap and where to sign up

For the first time, you will be able to play as any of the 16 announced characters, including the recently revealed Bryan Fury. You will also be able to face off on all five revealed stages: Urban Square, Yakushima, Rebel Hangar, Sanctum and Arena. The Closed Network Test will feature o?nline head-to-head ranked matche??s and cross-platform matchmaking.

Not only does Tekken 8 look like a lot of fun, but the new Heat battle system also sounds interesting. The recently released Street Fighter 6 has been consuming? a lot of my time lately, but who can't make a little room in their schedule to?? practice Nina?

Again, the signup link is right here!

The post Sign up for a chance to join the ??limited July Tekken 8 Closed ??Network Test appeared first on Destructoid.

The Man who Laughs

Bandai Namco has revealed yet another veteran fighter headed to the roster of its upcoming sequel, Tekken 8 �And following on from the fun 'n' games of Lili Roche??fort and Asuka Kazama, this newest trailer brings a whole lot more darkness, fear, and pain, with the return of psychopathic mercenary Bryan Fury!

Making his debut in 1997's Tekken 3, Bryan Fury is a former Hong Kong Interpol agent who was killed in a shootout, also involving celebrated detective Lei Wu-Long. Fury's corpse was rushed to the laboratory of the moral-free Dr. Abel, who wished to experiment on reanimated bodies for the purpose of future warfare. Now essentially a reanimated half-cyborg, Bryan's mind is all but completely lost, creating a sociopathic weapon?? capable of incredible destruction without as much as a raised eyebrow.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA0cwK2V4og

Fury's new trailer reveals that our favourite zombie's hard-hunting punches and trademark backfists are in full effect, along with his capabilities for superhuman feats of strength, defying the power of his Actually Alive brethren. Of course, Fury's penchant for maniacal laughter rings through the entire tra?iler, because if you can't have a good ol' chuckle when you're dead, when can you?

Bryan Fury's trailer was, unfortunately, leaked a little ahead of schedule, upsetting Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. But the preview finally got its official debut at the climax of this weekend's Combo Breaker tournament in Illinois, where the madman's return was welcome by the Tekken faithful.

Tekken 8 is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. It is tentatively expected to launch late in 2023 or early 2024. Be sure to check out the previous trailers for  Jin Kazama, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, King, Paul Phoenix, Jack-8, Lars Alexandersson, Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Ling Xiayou, Asuka Kazama, Leroy Smith, Lili Rochefort, and Hwoarang.

The post The maniacal Bryan Fury is next to?? join the Tekken 8 roster appeared first on Destructoid.

Just for kicks

Bandai Namco has unveiled the next veteran warrior returning for the studio's upcoming fighter Tekken 8? �And retu??rning to The King of Iron Fist Tournament is the hard-kickin', hard-riding taekwondo expert Hwoarang!

Hailing from South Korea and making his debut in 1997's Tekken 3, Hwoarang was initially established as a major player, set to be the Ken to?? Jin Kazama's Ryu and the successor of the aging Baek Doo San. Hwoarang, though disciplined in his martial arts studies, is generally depicted as a smart-mouthed, bad-boy biker, though he has shown loyalty, courage, and dedication to both his craft and to his friends and peers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAvVdlrHAKA

The Tekken 8 iteration of Hwoarang, as showcased in the above trailer, sees the return of his trademark red hair, which was dyed black in Tekken 7, additionally, Hwoarang has lost his eye patch, sugg??esting that the sight has returned in his left eye following an incident in which he was caught up in a botched assassination attempt on his rival, Jin Kazama. While Unreal 5 allows for a more mature visual appeara??nce, the fighter's arrogance remains firmly rooted in his past appearances.

He's pretty damn hot, is what I'm saying.

In the ring, we get to see Hwoarang show off his flashy and deceptive kicking combos, unevenly paced to cause confusion and anticipation in the opponent. ?Hwoarang battles Nina Williams in a military complex, before knocking seven shades of Shinola out of Jin Kazama in an underground cave, a new stage that features several scene transitions. Hwoarang's super sees him send his foe sky-high with a series of?? kicks, before bringing them crashing back down to earth with a devastation axe kick.

Tekken 8 is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. It is tentatively expected to launch late in 2023 or early 2024. Be sure to check out the previous trailers for  Jin Kazama, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, King, Paul Phoenix, Jack-8, Lars Alexandersson, Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Ling Xiayou, Asuka Kazama, Leroy Smith, and Lili Rochefort.

The post Hwoarang is the next fighter returnin?g for Tekken 8 appeared first on Destructoid.