Summary
As the first mainline title of the franchise in nearly a decade, it makes sense thatTekken 8may have already achieved the most successful launch of the series yet. With a roster of many beloved characters contributing to the hype that the game built in the lead-up to launch, the game feels the most refined of the past fewTekkenentries. A starting roster of 32 makes for one of the largest casts in a modern fighting game, but the expansive history of the franchise also meant thatTekken 8has left out many previously available characters.
The announcement of fan-favorite Eddy Gordo asT8DLC came before the game was even released, and the return of other classic fighters alongside the inevitable arrival of new faces can be expected. Despite this, there is essentially an entire roster’s worth of characters fromTekken’s history who didn’t make it intoT8, some of whom may never return. However, numerous fighters from the casts of each game have made a comeback in some form, making nothing certain when it comes tothe future ofTekken 8’s roster.
Licensed/Guest Characters of Tekken’s Past
Tekken 7 Established the Series' Interest in Guests
Prior to the success ofTekken 7which reinvigorated the series, Bandai Namco’s other3D fighting game franchise,SoulCalibur, was the one known for featuring guest characters from other IPs. Starting with the bold inclusion of Akuma inT7as a fully lore-relevant character, this dynamic would change and lead to the addition of guests from SNK,Final Fantasy, andThe Walking Dead. These fighters would greatly add to the hype of their game, but the reality of their status as licensed properties makes for a low probability that any of them will return inTekken 8.
A Tekken 3 Fan-Favorite is Unlikely to Ever Return
While the franchise has never been quite as known for guests asSoulCalibur, there is actually one secret character,Tekken 3’s Gon, that series creator Katsuhiro Harada himself has stated won’t be returning due to either licensing issues or time constraints.
Main Roster Characters Absent From Tekken 8
T8contains a diverse array of styles and personalities to choose from, but the series' rich history still left many previous fighters on the chopping block. The lack oficonicTekkenvillain Heihachi Mishimamakes sense given that he didn’t survive the last game, but the loss of mainstays like Bob, Lei, and Marduk may come as a surprise. Characters such as Michelle and Julia or Roger and Alex could potentially be considered copies of one another, but it’s uncertain which one could appear next in cases like these.
Missing Characters With Similarities to Existing Tekken 8 Fighters
The roster of the latestTekkencovers a solid breadth of fighting styles, something which has left several previous fighters less likely to appear due to existing movesets filling their role already.Eddy Gordo’s alter ego, Tiger Jackson, or Marshall Law’s similar son Forest, will ultimately be tough sells as standalone DLCs due to their “clone” statuses, but there’s always a chance for them to appear with new changes that set them apart.
Tekken 8
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
