From barely scraping by to standing tall, the creators of Tekken 8 now feel confident enough to downplay the controversy. Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray believe the negative perception is amplified because “happy players tend not to give their opinion.”

The controversy hasn’t derailed Tekken 8’s success, but it has left a mark on the fighting game’s public image. The latest entry in the long-running franchise finds itself in a curious spot: sales remain strong, its presence at major tournaments like Evo is unquestionable, and Bandai Namco has no plans to walk away from it. However, a large portion of the player base remains deeply dissatisfied, sparking heated debates and tensions across social media. The creative team, led by Katsuhiro Harada, has decided to respond and put the wave of conflicting opinions into perspective.

At Evo 2025, the studio introduced Armor King, a returning classic with a fresh design, new mechanics, and a more aggressive playstyle, including a brand-new stance called Bad Jaguar. They also surprised fans by unveiling Miary Zo, the first female fighter from Madagascar, born from extensive research that saw Harada and director Kohei Ikeda travel to the island nation to ensure cultural and fighting style authenticity.

The catch is that, despite the Japanese team’s dedication to delivering substantial, well-researched content, the sting of Season 2’s negative reception—launched last April—still lingers for many players. Speaking to Gamespot, Harada noted that part of the community wishes Tekken 8 felt more like Tekken 7, while others welcome the fresh direction.

In this light, Harada sought to downplay the scale of the backlash, pointing out that while social media can amplify rejection, the reality is more complex: many satisfied players stay silent, and some negative remarks may stem more from current trends than from direct experience. The key, he argues, is to listen to all voices without being swept away by the tide of online negativity.

Past Attempts to Remove Criticized Features Backfired

Veteran game designer Michael Murray recalled that previous attempts to remove every element the community disliked didn’t work out well, citing Tekken 4 as an example—a game remembered as an odd entry despite its good intentions. The team now aims to avoid repeating that mistake, focusing on analyzing which changes truly improve gameplay without sacrificing the series’ identity or settling for mediocrity.

Still, Tekken 8’s current reception remains decidedly negative. While Steam ratings have improved, the game barely clears the average mark, meaning one wrong move could derail its recent good momentum. For Harada, however, the upcoming competition from the new Virtua Fighter is not a threat but an opportunity to attract more players and showcase Tekken 8’s strengths.

Source: 3djuegos