Fighting game fans have been eating really well lately. Bandai Namco has released Tekken 8, the first in the series in five years, and the first mainline entry in almost a decade, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Tekken 8 builds upon the rage system of its predecessor with Heat, rewarding players who play aggressively. Characters can unlock the Heat state, gaining new moves and changing existing moves.
The full roster features 32 characters, most of whom are series veterans. New characters include Reina, a Japanese teen karate master, and French super spy Victor.
Single players can enjoy a full story mode, which continues the Mishima Saga between Kazuya and Jin. A new Arcade Quest mode helps onboard new players to the Tekken fighting system, using a custom avatar.
The arcade concept also bleeds over to multiplayer with the Tekken Fight Lounge, a virtual lobby to socialize and join different games and modes.
Multiplayer also features the usual ranked and casual matches with online cross-play. Players can also download AI-powered CPU bots, called Super Ghosts, which are created from players’ fighting data, to hone their skills.
“Today marks a great day for fighting game fans around the globe, as we launch the first entry in the Tekken franchise in nearly five years,” said Mike Chang, VP of marketing, Bandai Namco. “With Tekken 8 bringing the series to new gen with stunning visuals along with new features and game modes that bring a range of ‘firsts’ to the franchise, there’s never been a better time to become a fan of the series.”
Tekken 8 is available in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions.
The Deluxe Edition ($99) features the Year 1 Pass (including 4 additional fighters as future DLC) and the Gold Suit Pack DLC. The Ultimate Edition ($109) also includes Classic Tekken shirts for all 32 fighters, as well as avatar skins for Kazuya, Jin, and Jun.
Tekken 8 is rated T for Teen.
