It appears that Tekken 8 is coming out in January

The source of these leaks? A reliable digital storefront sleuth, Aggiornamenti Lumia, has been at the forefront, recently discovering the Tekken 8 listing for its prospective release date. Meanwhile, images from the recent EVO event seemed to give weight to an earlier roster leak, further stirring the waters.

All these leaks haven't gone unnoticed. Katsuhiro Harada, the director of Tekken 8, has expressed his vexation about the issue, especially given the outdated nature of some leaked details. Harada mentioned they were close to identifying the individual or groups responsible for these information dumps. This leak-chase became even more intriguing when the character reveals for Raven and the new entrant, Azucena, at Evo 2023 gave further credence to what was initially said to be a "fake" roster leak, following a series of takedowns by Bandai Namco that may have ultimately gone to waste.

While the exact source of these leaks remains a mystery, it's not the first time the Tekken team has had to deal with the untimely slip-ups. Bandai Namco's European division recently dropped the ball ahead of the Evo 2023 tournament. It appears that whether it's an internal hiccup or an external breach, Tekken 8's details just can't stay under wraps.

Tekken 8's announcement was officially made last September during a PlayStation State of Play livestream. Since then, the game has been on every fighting enthusiast's radar. Planned to be released on major platforms like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC via Steam, it promises a riveting continuation of the Mishima family's saga. The game aims to balance between catering to new players and offering depth for its seasoned audience.

As Bandai Namco has showcased multiple times already, Tekken 8 is brimming with revamped mechanics, such as the heat system, rage system, and recovery gauge. Of course, how could we forget the DRM-free launch? This speaks to its promise as a top-tier fighting experience.

Amidst the leak mayhem, there's speculation an official reveal of the game might happen at Gamescom Opening Night Live. Harada's presence, hinted at through his tweets, only adds to this theory.

But the timing of this probable release remains intriguing. Many were expecting a larger gap between the Tekken World Tour Finals, scheduled for January 14, and Tekken 8's release. There's a widespread belief in the community the early launch is a strategic move to sidestep the glut of game releases in the last quarter and pave a clear path ahead of titles usually expected in February and March.

Tekken 8, alongside Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, seems set to set the gaming tone for next year. Given the hype as well as the revelations and the ongoing drama around it, one thing is certain - Tekken 8's launch, whenever it happens, will be one of the most closely watched events in the gaming world.