First teased during the EVO 2022, Tekken 8 is slated for release sometime this year. While news about this highly-anticipated sequel to the legendary series was few and far between for months on end, Bandai Namco has doubled down on gameplay trailers lately. The character reveals followed in quick succession in recent days. And fans can already look forward to the comeback of some beloved badass fighters, such as Asuka Kazama and Leroy Smith.
The EVO Japan 2023 has just come to a close. Tekken 7 was one of the star games featured at the event. Hence, Bandai Namco couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to let out some long-awaited details on the next instalment in the franchise. And the Japanese studio delivered with a double dose of fighter reveals.
Introduced in Tekken 5, Asuka Kazama is coming back in style. A relative of Jun Kazama, this hot-headed practitioner of Kazama Style Traditional Martial Arts fights it out with a more aggressive twist than her aunt. Asuka will return sporting a new outfit, although players may switch to her flagship costume in the Customisation tab. If a bit withdrawn in the grand scheme of the story, compared to some of her more bombastic on-screen partners, this brawler’s blood ties with the Kazama clan and her rivalry with Emilie de Rochefort might put her on centre stage in the eighth installation in the series.
The trailer showed Asuka taking on another fan-favourite, classy master of Wing Chun Leroy Smith. This blind American martial artist is a powerful force to be reckoned with in the series through his use of quick strikes, parries, and evasion. Always with his mastiff Sugar by his side, Leroy can summon his pet to attack his opponent. And although the “Grandmaster of Drip” only made his first appearance in a Tekken 7 DLC, he quickly stood out as a new showpiece for the franchise. Leroy even made his way into the Tekken: Bloodline Netflix adaptation.
Tekken has long expanded beyond the gaming medium, indeed. From animated films to live-action motion pictures, the Japanese media franchise has conquered the movie industry. Printed adaptations of the games also hit the shelves for all comic books and manga fans to enjoy. And the world’s most popular fighting series, alongside Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, has lost none of its spark over the years.
Starting as an arcade game in 1994, the first Tekken was ported to PlayStation in 1995. The original game only featured eight playable characters in total. Little did its studio know that Tekken would stand the test of time and spawn a franchise going strong for three decades. Throughout seven mainline games, players got to follow the members of the Mishima family. New characters consistently popped in every new installation, boasting different fighting tactics and styles. Familiar faces made crossover appearances in series like Final Fantasy and King of Fighters.
Multiple spin-offs also came out on several devices, from the arcade game Tekken Tag Tournament 2 to the slot machine game Tekken Pachislot. Half pinball machine, half slot machine, Tekken Pachislot is exclusive to Japan. Gamers from all over the world may still find fun pokies online, though. Platforms like CasinoReviews.com give players an overview of the best online casinos out there. Expert gamblers have scoured the interned, testing out each casino thoroughly. Reviews factor in as many aspects as player feedback, product offering, and benefits. So, newcomers and seasoned players can jump right in to have a blast on classic casino games and innovative machine slots, while waiting for Tekken 8 to finally come out.
Despite this many reveal videos, no official release date has been disclosed for Tekken 8. However, the Japanese studio recently streamed an exciting 36-minute breakdown of the much-awaited sequel’s gameplay mechanics. Twelve fighters have now been confirmed for the game’s roster, including the recently announced return of Nina Williams, Jun Kazama, and Ling Xiaoyu.
Yet Tekken 8 is closer to release than ever before. Bandai Namco even announced two upcoming closed alpha test sessions in Europe and North America. The first session will go live on 22 April during The Mixup tournament in Lyon, France. The next will run from 26 to 28 May at the Combo Breaker event in Illinois, US. Hardcore fans of the franchise may therefore sign up for these events before Tekken 8 drops on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.
