In a day and age where video game leaks seem almost inevitable, the anticipation for Bandai Namco’s upcoming game, Tekken 8, has found itself dealing with an absurd amount of information finding its way on the wrong hands in the past week. But, while most would’ve expected the leaks to come from the usual suspects, the latest details about Tekken 8 come straight from the source – Bandai Namco.
Bandai’s official website momentarily featured news regarding the character reveals for Tekken 8. Although no longer available for everyone to see, this brief window was enough for avid fans to grab screenshots, potentially unveiling the return of Raven from Tekken 5 and introducing a new character, Azucena.
Raven’s inclusion isn’t wholly surprising given his recurrent appearances in the series since his introduction. However, it’s the new face, Azucena, that has set the rumor mills churning. This character, seemingly named after a flower – the word “Azucena” translates to “Lily” in Spanish – has been a subject of much speculation. Images circulating on social media show a character adorned with a lily-like flower, drawing parallels to this alleged reveal.
Furthermore, an anonymous post on 4chan from earlier this year insinuated the introduction of three new characters to the Tekken roster. Among them was Azucena, described as a Peruvian mixed martial artist. The other names it dropped were Victor, portrayed as a French UN agent skilled in close-quarter combat, and Reina, hinted to be the secret offspring of the iconic franchise villain, Heihachi Mishima.
This isn’t the first time Bandai Namco Europe seems to have jumped the gun. As pointed out by u/Trem45, Bandai has a penchant for accidental early reveals. As amusing as this might be for fans, it certainly raises eyebrows about the internal processes of such a prominent gaming company.
The intrigue doesn’t end there. Bandai Namco, in an attempt to safeguard their intellectual property, initiated copyright strikes against content creators who speculated about the Tekken 8 roster based on these leaks. In addition to this, they recently issued stern warnings against those who continued to access the now-concluded closed network test through illicit means.
Still, amidst this whirlwind of speculation and accidental revelations, a lingering question remains: How much of this is genuine, and how much could be a well-coordinated ruse? With the recent dubious Lego Harry Potter “leak” serving as a precedent, there’s always a possibility that the Tekken 8 leaks might be another wild goose chase. Nevertheless, the seemingly accidental Bandai Namco Europe reveal does bolster the credibility of some of these leaks, especially when a character name as specific as Azucena is involved.
Whether this enigmatic dance of leaks and revelations is an elaborate hoax or a series of genuine oversights, it’s hard to deny that Tekken 8’s impending release is leaving fans on edge.
The global Tekken community, from casual players to professional contenders gearing up for tournaments like Evo in Las Vegas, can’t wait to find out when the game will make its official debut.
Whether or not Azucena, Victor, and Reina are among the Tekken 8 roster remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Katsuhiro Harada isn’t having the best day.
