Discussion surrounding a potential Tekken 8 port for Nintendo Switch 2 has gained traction following comments from series director Katsuhiro Harada. Speaking at EVO earlier this month, Harada suggested that such a version was “not totally off the table” but acknowledged it would require extensive development effort to adapt the game to Nintendo’s hardware.
Digital Foundry explored this topic during a recent podcast, weighing both technical feasibility and market considerations. Analyst Oliver pointed to Tekken 8’s strong performance on Steam Deck as an encouraging sign. On Valve’s handheld, the game can reach 60 frames per second using a mix of low and medium settings, with temporal upscaling from roughly 480p to 720p. Since Switch 2 is expected to offer performance broadly comparable to Steam Deck in handheld mode, the analysis suggested the port could be possible with proper optimization.
However, as analyst Tom highlighted, Tekken 8 presents unique challenges that go beyond graphical concessions. The game features physics-driven elements such as destructible environments, cloth and hair simulation, and multiple secondary animations. These CPU-heavy systems distinguish Tekken 8 from titles like Street Fighter 6, which made the leap to Switch 2 with fewer technical complications. Balancing performance while maintaining cross-platform parity could prove difficult without scaling back some of these mechanics.
Switch 2’s hardware capabilities, particularly its CPU, remain a point of debate. While DLSS support could help maintain visual quality at lower internal resolutions, the extent of its effectiveness depends on Nintendo’s implementation. Digital Foundry noted that certain recent DLSS integrations have varied in quality, raising questions about how much of an advantage the feature will provide.
From a business perspective, the analysts agreed that Tekken 8 would be a strong addition to Switch 2’s library. The fighting game genre has traditionally performed well on Nintendo platforms, and with Street Fighter 6 already announced for the system, Tekken’s arrival would further strengthen its competitive offerings. Still, the technical hurdles leave the project in uncertain territory, making it more of a long-term possibility than a confirmed plan.
