'Tekken 8' Release Date: Story, Characters, and More

Tekken 8 takes place six months after the cataclysmic events of Tekken 7, which saw Kazuya finally end his father Heihachi during their final battle against each other. The aftermath of that epic battle results in Kazuya embarking on an even more severe reign of terror against the world at large. Jin, who is Kazuya's son, makes a vow to himself to bring an end to his father's latest bout of madness by confronting him in a final encounter in the hopes of killing him and bringing their family feud to a close. The return of Kazuya's lover and Jin's mother Jun will certainly complicate matters as she has been missing since Tekken 3 and was once believed to be deceased all the while. Alongside the fated encounter between Jin vs. Kazuya, Tekken 8's other characters will take sides in the conflict between those two aforementioned fighters during an all-encompassing global conflict.

It's also worth noting that the first revealed DLC fighter set to arrive in the Spring (Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to Thursday, June 20, 2024) for the Tekken 8 Character Pass is Eddy Gordo!

The familiar trappings of 3D combat that Tekken is known for will be returning for Tekken 8. The "Rage" mechanic that originated in Tekken 6, which strengthens a character when they're low on health, is returning for this much-anticipated sequel. The cinematic super moves known as "Rage Arts" will also be making their welcome return here. The biggest focus of Tekken 8 is aggressiveness as evidenced by the all-new Heat system, which is defined as a "period of time that is overwhelmingly beneficial to the attacker" and occurs when "the user enters a state of enhancement and awakening for a certain period of time, and can create a starting point for tactics and offensive actions."

For instance, Kazuya's Heat activation allows him to tap into his Devil Kazuya moveset while other characters can tap into even more devastating moves while they're in Heat mode. Keep in mind that a character's Heat activation lasts 10 seconds (that time pauses whenever that character is hit or laid out on the ground). Entering Heat mode can be done via a "Heat Burst" (which is an attack that slams an opponent into the ground and sets them up for further attacks) and a "Heat Enganger" (which is an attack that turns on a character's Heat mode if it lands). Once in Heat mode, players can pour all of their power into a devastating "Heat Smash" attack and use a "Heat Dash" to close the distance after landing a Heat Engager.

Chip damage is produced when characters block the attacks coming from their opponent powered by their Heat state. That part of a character's health gauge turns into recoverable HP, which can be recovered simply by attacking the opponent. Fighting game traditionalists and Tekken fans can enjoy Tekken 8 via the traditional "Arcade Style" control scheme, while newcomers can use the "Special Style" control method to utilize an easier way to pull off big combos and special moves. That Special Style lets beginners go ham on their foes thanks to the "Easy Combo" and "Assist" mechanics that debuted in Tekken 7.

For anyone who remembers playing Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution's "Quest Mode" for hours on end, you'll definitely want to keep an eye on this all-new mode that's debuting in Tekken 8. The single-player offline "Arcade Quest" mode throws players into a digital world patterned after the real-world competitive fighting game arcade scene. Players will be able to create and customize their very own avatars and take on other avatars throughout various arcades. Special tournament events will also be implemented into this new mode, plus players can accumulate a special currency called "Fight Money" to purchase new avatar gear and character customization items over time. The arcade cabinet setup for Arcade Quest certainly looks similar and focuses on the same themes present in Street Fighter 6's "Battle Hub" mode.

Oh and on a special side note - Tekken 3's "Tekken Ball" mode is back! You'll be able to access it via the "Beach Area" in the "Tekken Fight Lounge" and finally be able to play against players online in that legacy mode. Speaking of that lounge, you'll be able to explore it while online so you can interact with other players while moving around the "Battle Area," "Customisation Shop," and "Tekken Dojo." Setting up cross-platform matchmaking, creating custom avatars, using chats & emotes to converse with other players, and more make up the gamut of features the Tekken Fight Lounge has in store.