Video game giant Bandai Namco Entertainment’s esteemed producer Katsuhiro Harada surprised fans today when he tweeted an announcement that Tekken 8’s base roster will be exclusive to the series’ current characters in an attempt to give each one engaging new storylines.
This announcement comes in the wake of news that Tekken 8 will be the first modern installment to the series in nearly a decade. Fans had speculated that Harada and his team would be introducing multiple new characters into the next iteration to make up for the time elapsed.
However, in a recent tweet, the renowned producer quelled these thoughts, writing “Tekken 8 will not have any guest characters in its base roster.” He followed by emphasizing that, though the idea had been frequently discussed, he ultimately felt that it was important for the game to focus on the existing roster of characters.
Harada’s decision reflects his goal of ensuring that the Tekken story remains a cohesive one, and that character development progresses seemlessly without the introduction of any unwanted distractions. His tweet concluded with the message that the team is operating at peak performance to ensure the stories of the existing cast are at the highest quality.
Many gaming fans disappointed with Harada’s announcement responded to the tweet in a less-than-enthusiastic manner. However, others were encouraged by his stance on keeping the world of Tekken true to its own lore. The debate continues to rage on, though at this point fans will have to wait until Tekken 8’s release to see just what kind of character changes are in store.
