The situation surrounding Tekken 8 remains tense and controversial. On one hand, it’s a high-quality game, showcasing the developers’ passion. On the other hand, various updates—whether related to the battle pass or game balance—have been met with player dissatisfaction.

Let's focus on balance changes. Tekken 8 is designed around aggression and an offensive playstyle. Throughout Season 1, many players complained about the lack of defensive tools. Then came Season 2, where developers promised to improve defense—but instead of welcoming these changes, players were left confused, and the game's Steam ratings plummeted.

The community argues that developers shouldn't have buffed characters by increasing combo damage and adding new offensive tools. Additionally, the devs altered 50/50 mix-ups, a mechanic where a defending player has to guess the attacker’s next move. The more 50/50 scenarios, the less skill-based gameplay becomes. This also reduces character uniqueness and strategic depth.

It will be interesting to see how Bandai Namco reacts, especially since Katsuhiro Harada is known for actively engaging with the community. The next moves from Tekken Project will be crucial.

Main image: steampowered.com

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