Tekken 8 has faced significant backlash following the release of its Season 2, particularly regarding the balance adjustments that coincided with the introduction of the season’s first DLC character, Anna Williams. This discontent has resulted in an Overwhelmingly Negative rating on its Steam store page. In light of the criticism, Katsuhiro Harada, the producer of the Tekken franchise, acknowledged the fans’ frustrations, stating, “I personally do not think this backlash is at all unjustified” in a recent tweet (source).
Typically, Tekken 8 introduces updates alongside new DLC characters; however, the launch of Season 2 has been so tumultuous that Bandai Namco is compelled to roll out an emergency patch.
The official Tekken Twitter account revealed that this patch is scheduled for release on Thursday, April 17, at 11 AM JST (equivalent to 3 AM BST, and on April 16 at 10 PM ET and 7 PM PT).
The recent update aimed to counteract the perception that Tekken 8 emphasized offensive play too heavily, but it appears to have exacerbated the issue, making the gameplay more aggressive instead.
In a tweet, the Tekken account explained, “We are aware that the certain added moves and performance adjustments in Season 2 have shifted too heavily toward offense. We sincerely apologize for the results.”
Additionally, the thread from Bandai Namco indicated that the forthcoming patch would introduce features such as “Increase Maximum Health to Allow for More Exchanges in Neutral,” “Gradual Adjustments to Overly High-Reward Moves,” and “Rebalancing the Offensive and Defensive Aspects of the Heat System.”
Looking ahead, the next significant patch for Tekken 8 is anticipated to launch in mid-May.
Harada and the Tekken team are no strangers to stressful situations, with the producer recently revealing he left Namco for a year in response to Tekken 4’s reception.– Katsuhiro Harada