Prepare your combos and special moves because Tekken 8 is on the horizon!

First released in 1994, the Tekken franchise has become a staple arcade-style fighting game among Filipino gamers. Through several installments, it enjoyed continuous support in the country, so much so that Tekken 7 featured a Filipino fighter, Josie Rizal, named after the Philippines’ national hero.

With 10 games in the library and a sequel coming up, there’s so much to look forward to in the franchise—from an exciting story following the previous game’s events to a slew of new and returning characters that will test your fighting skills.

Let’s discuss everything to know about the upcoming Tekken 8 video game. Ready? Fight!

Tekken 8 Release Date

Developer Bandai Namco first teased Tekken 8 during EVO 2022’s Tekken 7 tournament, which took place in August 2022. A month later, the developer formally confirmed the game during Sony’s State of Play with a fiery announcement trailer, showcasing the main storyline, gameplay footage, and state-of-the-art graphics with a fight between protagonist Jin Kazama and his father, Kazuya Mishima.

Unfortunately, neither the announcement nor the official trailer from Game Awards 2022 confirmed a Tekken 8 release date. However, it’s assumed to arrive later this year or early 2024.

That said, Tekken 8 will surely be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, but no news yet about platform support for Nintendo Switch, so users of the console need to be extra patient. There’s also no official announcement on whether Tekken 8 will be available on arcade machines—if it won’t, this will be a first for the franchise that traditionally releases on arcade first before consoles.

Tekken 8 Story

Set months following Tekken 7, after Kazuya defeats his father and antagonist, Heihachi Mishima, Tekken 8 will focus on Kazuya and Jin’s struggle. Jin has always been at odds with his lineage, so Tekken 8 might portray his attempt to break out of it, implied by the broken chains at the end of the official trailer.

As the last carriers of the destructive Devil Gene, players can expect devastating battles between father and son, with the trailer showing Jin tapping into his Devil Jin alter ego. His mother, Jun Kazama, will also make a comeback since her last run as a playable character in 1995’s Tekken 2.

Tekken 8 Confirmed and Returning Characters

New and long-time Tekken fans will be pleased to know that many of their beloved fighters are returning as part of the Tekken 8 character roster, including:

• Jin Kazama
• Devil Jin
• Kazuya Mishima
• Devil Kazuya
• Jun Kazama
• Paul Phoenix
• Lars Alexandersson
• Marshall Law
• Nina Williams

Meanwhile, only the latest iteration of the Jack fighting robot, Jack-8, is slated as a new addition to the roster. Bandai Namco has yet to announce new characters for Tekken 8, but expect them to be revealed before the game’s release.

Be the New King of the Iron Fist Tournament

While there are only speculations on exactly when Tekken 8 drops, information from trailers and announcements, coupled with rumors and theories, are nonetheless exciting fans worldwide, so keep your eyes peeled for new announcements!

The struggle between Jin and Kazuya and the upcoming and returning characters will surely stir new, thrilling storylines and fight sequences that will keep gamers on the edge of their seats, smashing buttons combo after combo. So, practice your moves, pick your best character, and get ready for the next battle!

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