Bandai Namco may be on the verge of announcing a Closed Network Test for its upcoming fighting game, Tekken 8.
Details regarding a Closed Network Test for Tekken 8 have emerged via SteamDB. The app is classified as a ‘Beta’, and was added to the database today on May 31, 2023.
Bandai Namco had conducted offline Closed Alpha Tests for Tekken 8 at various worldwide events, including EVO Japan, The Mixup, PlayX4, and Combo Breaker. According to the developer, the purpose of the test was to gather ideas for adjusting the game’s battle system. After participating in the test, players were asked to answer an online questionnaire. Now, the developer appears to be looking to conduct its very first Close Network Test for Tekken 8, in which a wider array of participants from across the world are likely to be selected.
Previously, a leaked screenshot of what appears to be a demo kiosk for Tekken 8 had emerged online, revealing the game’s character select screen. The roster of characters seen in that particular build of Tekken 8 was not final, and will get some further additions leading up to its release.
Additionally, it was reported that Tekken 8 will support crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and that the game’s launch roster is set to surpass that of Street Fighter 6. The Game Director and Chief Producer of the Tekken series, Katsuhiro Harada, took to Twitter to reveal that Tekken 8 will support crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and that the game’s launch roster will feature “a lot more” characters than that of Street Fighter 6.
Harada stated that when the previous generation consoles were released, he had proposed crossplay to the higher ups at PlayStation and Xbox. However, at the time, neither was interested in the feature over concerns related to business interests as well as P2P security issues. Therefore, his request for crossplay was repeatedly denied by both console makers. However, things are different in the current landscape, and Tekken 8 will indeed support crossplay on all available platforms.
