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.
, 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.
