Executive Producer of Tekken 8, Katsuhiro Harada, Defends Use of Microtransactions

As the cost of game development continues to rise, Executive Producer of Tekken 8, Katsuhiro Harada, has defended the inclusion of microtransactions in the game. Harada emphasized that the development costs for Tekken 8 are three times higher than its predecessor, making it necessary to incorporate live-service elements to sustain the game post-launch.

The debate surrounding microtransactions is nothing new, with many fans expressing concerns over the practice. Despite the criticism, Harada believes that microtransactions are essential in modern game development to support ongoing maintenance and updates.

Harada pointed out the significant increase in development costs and the demand for online play, which requires additional resources for maintenance. He acknowledged that microtransactions enable Bandai Namco and Arika to continue supporting Tekken 8 through patches and updates.

Responding to critics of Tekken 8, Harada stated, “The economic situation and everything else is changing. If we simply do nothing as he suggests, the game will simply stop running in a few months.” He emphasized the necessity of economic activity to sustain the game’s longevity and dismissed calls to abandon microtransactions.

While many publishers adopt the use of microtransactions, there have been recent exceptions like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, which received extensive post-launch updates without live-service elements. This has sparked debate about the effectiveness of microtransactions in enhancing the gaming experience. Harada’s defense of microtransactions may be met with skepticism by some players, questioning the balance between profitability and player satisfaction.