Bandai Namco, which was in attendance at the Tokyo Game Show 2023, has given fighting game enthusiasts worldwide a delightful surprise by confirming the inclusion of Panda as a playable character in Tekken 8.
Ever since her first appearance in Tekken 3, Panda has been a staple character of the franchise as well as appearing in a handful of spin-offs including Tekken Tag Tournament and Tekken: Blood Vengeance.
Set to release on January 26, 2024, Tekken 8 will be available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and the PC via Steam. It’s a welcome addition to the iconic fighting game series that now sees the total number of characters in its roster at a healthy 32. Apart from Panda, other characters slated for inclusion are fan-favorites such as Jin Kazama, Nina Williams, Paul Phoenix, and Hwoarang, to name a few. The announcement further added to the anticipation generated by closed-network testing for PlayStation 5 on July 21, and Xbox Series S/X and PC on July 28. This testing phase facilitated cross-play and provided Bandai Namco with invaluable insights to enhance the game’s online network and rollback netcode, ensuring smooth gameplay.
Interestingly, Bandai Namco opted for a novel approach for Panda’s reveal. Instead of the conventional character trailer, the company chose to showcase a character statue of Panda at their Tokyo Game Show booth, concealed initially by a red curtain. This spectacular reveal was then complemented by tweets from the official Tekken 8 account, providing its fans with in-game screenshots of the beloved bear in dynamic action.
The character design for Panda in Tekken 8 remains largely loyal to her previous appearance in Tekken 7, except with a couple of notable changes like a transition from a red hat to what appears to be an ear warmer. Nonetheless, all iconic accessories like her scarf, bracelets, and red anklet have been retained. While Bandai Namco refrained from divulging extensive details about Panda’s gameplay, the released screenshots did tease some of her moves, including a striking claw swipe accentuated by a pink visual flair.
Bandai Namco’s announcement for Panda comes hot on the heels of the recent reveal of Feng Wei.
Surprisingly enough, both these characters were conspicuously absent from the expansive Tekken 8 roster leak earlier this year. Is it possible that Katsuhiro Harada is subverting expectations by contradicting the leaks?
In any case, the incident, which saw malicious individuals successfully breach a Closed Network Test. This permitted gameplay beyond the designated testing period and facilitated file analyses that exposed numerous then-unannounced characters. Such leaks, while serving to boost fan excitement, undoubtedly pose challenges for a developer looking to keep such details under lock and key ahead of an official reveal.
Bandai Namco’s consistent and engaging updates, combined with the game’s lineage, undoubtedly place Tekken 8 as one of the most awaited titles for 2024. With the return of beloved characters and the introduction of new faces, the game promises both nostalgia and fresh excitement for Tekken veterans and newcomers alike.
Tekken 8 is the last of the big-name fighting games that’s coming out this fiscal year. It all started with Street Fighter 6, which received excellent reviews, followed by Mortal Kombat 1, a game that was met with positive reviews on platforms outside of the Nintendo Switch. It remains to be seen how well fans will enjoy Tekken 8 after all the wait. But, if it’s any consolation, it won’t have Denuvo DRM.
