Summary
- Tekken 8 director is open to a Waffle House crossover stage, despite no response from the restaurant chain.
- Fans have been requesting a special stage after viral videos of fights breaking out in various Waffle House restaurants were seen.
- Tekken 8 is facing backlash for Season 2 updates, with plans to address balance issues and release new changes.
While Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada's calls to Waffle House about a potential Tekken crossover have been ignored, he is still very open to the idea. Harada first fueled the desire to bring a Waffle House-inspired stage to the game after Tekken 8 fans reacted to a viral video where a real-life brawl broke out at one of the restaurants. Despite his best efforts, though, it seems like Waffle House isn't interested, but that isn't to say a potential Tekken 8 collaboration couldn't happen in the future.
Crossovers are quite common for video games, especially fighting games, with Tekken 8 being no exception. Over the years, Bandai Namco's legendary fighting brand has seen world-famous characters make their way onto the roster, including Negan from The Walking Dead, Geese Howard from Fatal Fury, and Street Fighter's own Akuma. Characters are a huge part of Tekken's overall identity and, as such, remain one of the most exciting parts of Tekken 8. However, other elements, like fighting stages, are also important, with director Katsuhiro Harada revealing he is actively trying to snag a collaboration with a popular US restaurant chain.
Street Fighter 6 on Nintendo Switch 2 Puts the Ball in Tekken 8's Court
Street Fighter recently announced its plans to release on the Nintendo Switch 2, and Tekken 8 would be wise to follow one of its closest competitors.
On Twitter, Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada revealed he has reached out to Waffle House about bringing the breakfast chain to Tekken 8 as one of its stages. Harada said he has not heard back, indicating Waffle House likely isn't interested in collaborating, but this doesn't mean a restaurant inspired by the franchise can't be brought into Tekken 8. In a recent post on Twitter, Harada teased creating an off-brand Waffle House stage named Hustle House, asking if it "made sense" to the community.
Tekken 8 Director Teases Potential Waffle House-Inspired Stage
The desire to bring Waffle House into Tekken 8 dates back to 2024 when Harda asked why players recommended Waffle House as a potential crossover. Fans likely got the idea thanks to the viral videos of fights breaking out in various Waffle House restaurants, something the chain has become known for online. More recently, Harada commented on one of these viral "fight" videos in which a worker caught a chair in midair, calling it an "excellent parry." Tekken 8 features a number of stages, though a Waffle House-inspired one would certainly be fascinating to see.
Tekken 8 is in quite a rough spot in terms of community reception right now. While fans had their issues with the game's Season 1 update, nothing would compare to the amount of backlash Tekken 8's Season 2 update would receive, pushing some to the brink. Tekken 8 currently sits at the "Overwhelmingly Negative" review mark on Steam as the core issues involve balance changes that made a game that is already fast and oppressive, even more so. In response, the team announced work is being done to bring the game back and address issues, with new balance changes set to drop for Tekken 8 this summer.
Tekken 8
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
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.
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
