Bandai Namco’s Tekken 8 development team has responded to player criticism surrounding changes introduced in Season 2, addressing the balance between honoring long-time fans and evolving the series. Speaking to GameSpot, producers Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray outlined their approach to evaluating feedback while maintaining the game’s creative vision.
Harada noted that while Tekken 8 initially received strong acclaim, including a 90 Metacritic score and a Best Fighting Game award at The Game Awards, opinions became more divided after the launch of Season 2. He acknowledged that part of the fanbase prefers gameplay closer to Tekken 7, while others—many new to the series—embrace the fresh mechanics. “We’re trying to continue to monitor the community and to have a discussion with them to find a middle ground that everyone can enjoy,” Harada said, emphasizing the importance of uniting different segments of the player base.
Addressing the challenge of sorting through online criticism, Harada explained that while social media offers valuable insights, it can also amplify negativity. He stressed the importance of gathering opinions from diverse sources, including events like Evo and Comic-Con, which allow for direct engagement with both competitive and casual players. “I try not to think too much about negative engagement farming… I take the data and try to get to what they’re saying,” Harada stated.
The difficulty, he added, lies in discerning genuine criticism from echoed sentiment. Harada pointed out that vocal dissatisfaction often overshadows silent approval, as satisfied players tend to remain quiet. Murray added that past experiences, such as changes made during the Tekken 4 era, taught the team that simply removing unpopular features does not guarantee a better game. “We use that as a lesson—that just taking things and limiting elements that people are complaining about doesn’t necessarily make a good game,” Murray said.
For now, Tekken 8’s developers remain committed to refining the experience based on measured community input rather than reacting solely to the loudest voices. This approach, they believe, will allow the game to grow while respecting both its heritage and the expectations of new players.
