Now that 2023 has come to a close, fans are looking forward to 2024’s biggest releases. One of the first big AAA titles to come out this year is Tekken 8, set for January 26, 2024. However, fighting game fans found themselves equal parts confused and excited when a Reddit user, shyl0c, shared an image from a local game shop featuring several Tekken 8 promotional posters with a January 21 launch date on PlayStation 5. This date differed from the previously announced release date. The speculation was further fueled by discrepancies in the release dates on various digital storefronts, with some showing January 25. However, Bandai Namco has clarified that these variances are due to time zone differences, and the official launch date remains January 26 for all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Tekken 8’s release isn’t just another addition to the franchise but a significant leap in gaming technology and narrative storytelling. Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, the game promises stunning visual quality. Players will notice incredible attention to detail, from environmental destruction to the transition from day to night in stages like Urban Square, which looks a lot like Midtown Manhattan. A noteworthy feature is the realistic portrayal of characters getting dirty and beat up during fights.
As always, the narrative of Tekken 8 is front and center of the single-player gameplay. The story mode starts off with a dramatic fight between Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima, showcasing an impressive level of intensity and graphics. This mode, along with the Arcade Quest, is designed to deepen players’ understanding of Tekken’s world and enhance their skills. The Arcade Quest mode, in particular, introduces players to Tekken’s mechanics in a more interactive and engaging manner, setting them on a path to mastering the game.
Tekken 8 has made significant improvements over its predecessor, Tekken 7, in terms of pacing and storytelling. The first chapter demonstrates a seamless integration of real-time sequences and gameplay, enhancing overall gameplay. The soundtrack, a consistent highlight in Namco games, also promises to add to the immersive experience.
Another exciting aspect of Tekken 8 is the return of the Rage mechanic, first introduced in Tekken 6, allowing increased damage when a character’s health falls below 20%. The game retains Tekken 7’s Rage Art but with a uniform input on all characters. Notably, Rage Drive moves from Tekken 7 will not return in Tekken 8. Instead, the game introduces a brand new mechanic, Heat, where some strong attacks deal chip damage, represented as a white portion on the health bar, which can be regained unless hit by a low attack.
In a significant move to enhance online gameplay, Bandai Namco is collaborating with ARIKA, known for its exceptional netcode in games like Fighting EX Layer. This partnership aims to provide a flawless online experience for Tekken 8 players.
As fans eagerly await the release of Tekken 8, there’s several features that fans would love to see in it. Top on the list is a bigger focus on single-player content, drawing inspiration from Street Fighter 6’s approach to making fighting games a lot more well-rounded. Lighter movement mechanics, making high-level techniques such as the Korean Backdash more accessible to a wider range of players, while preserving its functionality for high-end gameplay, are, hopefully, part of the game as well. Additionally, there’s a desire for guest characters that fit seamlessly into Tekken’s gameplay mechanics, avoiding rule-breaking characters as seen in Tekken 7.
Tekken 8 is shaping up to be a landmark title in the franchise, with its cutting-edge graphics, deeper narrative, and improved gameplay mechanics.
With only weeks to go until January 26, fans won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on their controllers or game pads to battle it out in Tekken 8.
