June 2021 marked 4 years since the console release of Tekken 7, and an announcement of a Tekken 8 release date has yet to appear. In fact, we haven’t even seen a Tekken 8 trailer. So, for all us long-time Tekken fans out there, I’m asking: Please Bandai Namco, give us what we want! Give us Tekken 8!
There are so many unanswered questions around Tekken 7‘s open-ended conclusion. Did Heihachi really die? Will Jin finally defeat and kill Kazuya? Will the war between the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation ultimately destroy the world?
Fans of the series have waited long enough. We can’t wait to see where the series goes next and what new and exciting Tekken 8 characters we might meet.
When is Tekken 8 coming out?
The truth is, we don’t know when Tekken 8 is coming out. No Tekken 8 release date has been confirmed. But we hope it’s soon. The issue we have is that Bandai Namco haven’t even confirmed it’s in development. Which, given the time between announcement, delays and release these days, doesn’t fill us with hope that it’ll be soon.
While a Tekken 8 release date has yet to be confirmed, there are a few things we can draw from the patterns of previous releases. Often, Tekken games arrive in arcades before they appear on PlayStation consoles. With Tekken 7, the gap was around two years. And the same was the case for Tekken 6 when it arrived on the PlayStation 3 two years after debuting in arcades. From that, it makes sense to speculate that Tekken 8 on the PS5 is a ways off. Let’s say, by some miracle, it’s announced in 2021 and released in arcades in 2022. That means it won’t be until 2024 that fans can play it at home.
Of course, there’s always the chance that the new game (it could be Tekken Tag Tournament 3) will arrive in arcades and on consoles simultaneously. We hope that’s what happens. Otherwise it might be a long wait.
Tekken 7 has had its day
Now, I’m not saying Tekken 7 isn’t a good game. It is. And it has done extremely well and continues to be popular. As of March 2021, it has sold 7 million copies. Not only that, but Bandai Namco continue to support the game and release new content.
Tekken 7‘s roster has continually been expanded since its release. Even The Walking Dead‘s Negan has made an appearance. Most recently, fans were treated to Tekken 7 Season 4. With Season 4, long-time favourite Kunimitsu returned (or rather, “Kunimitsu II”, the former’s daughter).
All that being said, I think I speak for all fans when I say that we’d prefer a new game to more Tekken 7 DLC. Of course, developers are committing more and more to “gaming as a service”. And that’s expanding the life span of games. But rather than milking 7 for every last penny, let’s have a new and improved game, shall we?
Tekken 7 ranks should carry over to Tekken 8
Let’s face it – experienced and accomplished Tekken players don’t want to lose their rank and status. And if that’s something that’s swaying people away from wanting a new game, Bandai Namco should enable those ranks to be carried across. Simply continue the service offered with Tekken 7 in Tekken 8. It’s the best of both worlds.
Will we see Tekken 8 in 2021?
While new information on Tekken 8 is scarce, it doesn’t stop fans from hoping it might be just around the corner. It seems reasonable to suspect an announcement (in some form) may be with us by the end of 2021. After all, Tekken 7 is still popular – so why not capitalise now? I’m keeping my fingers crossed. And we’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Are you excited for a new Tekken game? When do you think it’ll be released? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
