Tekken 8 Delayed After Street Fighter 6 Release Date
It was decided two years ago that Tekken 8 and another unnamed fighting game, believed to be Street Fighter 6, would be released on the same day. Recognizing the potential conflict, Katsuhiro Harada and Bandai Namco chose to delay the release of Tekken 8 to January 2024.
Original Release Date and Potential Delay
In his video diary, Harada doesn’t explicitly mention the name of the fighting game, referring to it simply as “that title.” However, considering that the delay was approximately six months,Tekken 8’s original release date would have been around July 2023. Notably, Street Fighter 6 was released on June 2, 2023, making it the most likely candidate for the cause of the delay.
Timing and Impact on Other Games
The discovery of the overlapping release dates occurred about two years ago, well before the official announcement of Mortal Kombat 1. Additionally, the delay of Tekken 8 also ensured it wouldn’t clash with the release date of NetherRealm Studios’ latest fighting game, which came out in September.
New Release Date and Closed Beta Test
Tekken 8 is now set to launch on January 26, 2024. However, eager fans had the opportunity to participate in the closed beta test, which began on October 20. The closed beta was accessible on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with preloads available since October 5 for PS5 and October 10 for Xbox and PC.
Concerns Over Early Access and Leaks
Some PC players managed to crack the beta update and gain early access, leading to leaked gameplay footage on social media. This raised concerns about potential unfair advantages for those who played early. Bandai Namco had previously pledged to ban those who accessed the cracked version during the previous Closed Network Test. Harada himself expressed frustration about the situation on Twitter.