The heat is on, as Bandai Namco continues to ramp up the roster reveals for Tekken 8. Hot on the heels of several new character announcements at gamescom 2023, the highly-anticipated title is welcoming yet another familiar face back to the fight.
Feng Wei, the God Fist Style user first introduced in Tekken 5, marks the 25th playable fighter to join the roster. Most of the line-up features returning characters from previous entries, such as Xiaoyu, Hwoarang, and Marshall Law, but there are some updated versions of old characters like Jack-8, newcomer Azucena, and others like Jun Kazama who are appearing for the first time in over a decade.
The closed beta is also confirmed to take place from 20 to 23 October 2023 for PS5, Xbox X|S, and PC owners, with registration open from now till 11 October. Players will be able to access two play areas in the all-new Tekken Fight Lounge, 19 playable characters, and six available stages, including Ortiz Farm, which wasn’t part of the Closed Network Test previously.
The first zone, the Battle Area, plays host to Ranked Match and Quick Match, while the Customisation Shop allows for the personalisation of various UI elements, such as title plates, player info, and Magic Mirror. Any customisation made in the lounge can be used in Arcade Quest, the single-player mode that lets players create their own chibi character, run around a small arcade, and battle their way through a tournament bracket (think Street Fighter 6‘s Battle Hub).
In the full game, there will be two more modes: Group Match, which pits players against those sitting in the same group of cabinets in the Tekken Fight Lounge, and Super Ghost Battle, where they can go up against their own Ghost or the Ghost Data of other players.
While the Ghost Battle feature isn’t new, the AI-controlled Ghosts in Tekken 8 are designed to be more intelligent, such that they can learn “real player-like” movement and evolve along the way. The Tekken Ball mode will also make a return to the game, though it won’t be available in the closed beta.
In addition to these experiences, players can expect some quality-of-life improvements in the upcoming session as well. Tailored to the feedback received for the Closed Network Test, they include more effective adjustments to the Heat System, expanded functionality for Special Style, revised effect saturation, and more.
Tekken 8, featuring aggressive gameplay that caters to both veterans and franchise newcomers, is slated for release on 26 January 2024. Unlike its predecessors, there won’t be any guest characters this time round.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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