Tekken 8 Players Dissatisfied with Season 2 Update

The Season 2 update for Tekken 8 is finally here, stirring up quite a buzz within the community, but not for the reasons one might hope. With anticipation building up, this update has introduced a host of new features, including a fresh face to the lineup. Yet, the reception has been less than stellar.

From the get-go, this update sparked debates, especially when there were plans to introduce chip damage to throw breaks—a change that was swiftly canned following a wave of backlash from loyal fans. Now that Season 2 has officially launched, Anna Williams joins the fray, adding to the roster as Nina’s sibling steps into the spotlight. The update also includes a fresh Fight Pass and introduces eight new ranks beyond God of Destruction. In a controversial move, ranks earned in the previous season have been wiped clean, and the mechanics of gaining and losing points in ranked play have been revamped. Online matchmaking has seen improvements to ensure gamers are matched with opponents of similar skill. Yet, despite these changes, the community’s response has been tepid at best.

There’s a strong sense of discontent among Tekken 8 players post-update. High-profile player Arslan Ash voiced those frustrations, pointing out that players seemingly didn’t appreciate what Season 1 offered. Meanwhile, Stephen “Speedkicks” Stafford, another seasoned competitor, has been vocal in calling for urgent changes, urging for nerfing nearly the entire character roster ahead of the Tekken World Tour 2025. Pro player Akhil “Tetsu” Kakar also hasn’t hidden his dissatisfaction, hinting at the possibility of jumping ship to Street Fighter 6 or the upcoming Fatal Fury.

In this new season, not only have characters received new moves, but also some buffs that significantly shift their power levels, shaking up the gameplay mechanics further. While the developers aimed to bolster defensive options, they also armed the characters with even more 50/50 scenarios. These moves demand split-second blocking decisions from the opponent, with a risk of getting hit no matter what. This complexity has led to game-breaking interactions and new “touch of death” combos, making players quip that “if all the fighters are broken, then nobody is.” This dissatisfaction has been reflected on Steam, where Tekken 8’s rating has plummeted back to “mostly negative.”

Neither Bandai Namco nor the game’s director, Katsuhiro Harada, have stepped forward to address the growing concerns. As it stands, players are holding out hope for quick interventions and adjustments to enhance the gameplay experience, wishing for these issues to be resolved in upcoming updates.