Summary
- Katsuhiro Harada stated that a Dead or Alive crossover with Tekken 8 is unlikely due to the current state of the DOA franchise.
- Tekken 7 broke tradition by including guest characters like Street Fighter's Akuma, paving the way for future crossovers in the series.
- Despite the disappointment for some fans, there is still a possibility for a future collaboration if DOA sees a resurgence.
Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada claimed a crossover with Koei Tecmo's Dead or Alive series is highly unlikely for the foreseeable future. For a long part of the franchise's history, Bandai Namco's long-running 3D fighting game franchise has been traditionally reluctant to welcome guest characters into its roster, an aversion the series only overcame following the announcement of Street Fighter's Akuma for Tekken 7. But even though the series is seemingly far more open to crossovers today, some franchises might still not be viable competitors for Tekken 8's King of Iron Fist Tournament.
Before 2015, the roster for the many entries in the Tekken series was notably free of guest characters, with the sole exception of Gon and his sporadic appearance in Tekken 3. However, the status quo shifted after the release of Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, which welcomed Akuma and even provided him with a role to play in the notorious Mishima family feud through the game's story mode. In the years following Akuma's arrival, Tekken 7 welcomed several additional guest characters from a variety of beloved franchises, such as Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy 15 and Negan from The Walking Dead.
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Now, longtime fans are debating who might be the best guest character for Tekken 8. Some players inevitably nominated several characters from other beloved 3D fighters, with the Dead or Alive series among them. Unfortunately, Harada revealed the chances of a Tekken 8 and Dead or Alive crossover were currently low, with the director stating that Koei Tecmo's 3D fighter was currently in a tough spot. Harada further explained that, unless its developer announced a new entry in the series or otherwise did something to show that the franchise was still relevant in today's market, it would be difficult to justify a collaboration.
Dead or Alive is Facing a Content Drought
While Harada's response was likely a disappointment for many Dead or Alive fans, it might not be too shocking for longtime followers of Koei Tecmo's 3D fighter. Its most recent entry, Dead or Alive 6, released all the way back in 2019 and was received with mostly lukewarm reviews. Since then, there's been a noticeable content drought for the franchise, with no news of a possible sequel or expansion. While developer Team Ninja reportedly considered rebooting Dead or Alive, there have also been no confirmations that an actual project was planned or in production.
A Dead or Alive and Tekken 8 crossover seems unlikely, but it is worth noting that Harada did not outright claim it was impossible. For now, players will have to content themselves with the recently released Update 1.05, which featured a variety of major changes to Tekken 8's character move lists and gameplay elements.
Tekken 8
- Released
- January 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Metascore
- 90
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
