Tekken 8 producer Katsuhiro Harada shared an update, informing fans that guest characters may be considered after the game’s launch. One of Harada and the Tekken 8 team’s main priorities involve a large base roster.
According to Harada, the Tekken 8 team does not plan to develop guest characters first and foremost. The current efforts are concentrated on having more early roster characters in the game. One of the main focuses of Tekken 8 involves an increase in base roster characters compared to prior Tekken entries and other fighting games. If guest characters do come, it will be after the game’s launch.
Harada on Tekken 8 Guest Characters
Here’s what Harada had to say in his exact words:
“We do not plan to develop guest characters first,” Harada said on Twitter. “First of all, we are concentrating on ‘having more early Roasters’ than other fighting game titles (In other words, increase the initial number of default characters). Even if we think about guest characters, it will be after the release.”
The previous game in the series, Tekken 7, featured Akuma from Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise as a guest character in the game’s worldwide release. Tekken 7 would receive guest characters in post-launch DLC, including Negan from The Walking Dead and Final Fantasy XV’s Noctis. Tekken 8 guest characters may potentially arrive after launch, but nothing is directly confirmed.
Harada’s clarification on guest characters comes just days after hosting the Tekken 8: The Art of Fighting panel with producer Michael Murray at San Diego Comic-Con 2023. Several guests joined the panel, including boxing legend Mike Tyson, MMA Grand Slam Champion Cris Cyborg, WWE superstar Xavier Woods a.k.a. Austin Creed, and esports personality Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez.
Early access for the Tekken 8 closed network test has ended on PlayStation 5. However, the network test will be made available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 starting July 28. This particular network test will be held until July 31 at 12 a.m. PDT.
Lastly, Tekken 8 is in development for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
