Summary
Tekken 8is being review-bombed once again over publisher Bandai Namco’s approach to monetization, with fans making their voices heard on places like Steam.Tekken 8is no stranger to controversy regarding its monetization and paid DLC, with the game being criticized over its inclusion of a battle pass progression system shortly after release. With the introduction of a new paid stage, fans are once again calling out Bandai Namco for the wayTekken 8has been handled post-launch.
Serving as the latest entry in the long-running fighting game franchise,Tekken 8also acts as the direct sequel toTekken 7, a game that released over nine years ago. The road toTekken 8has been a long one, though the game mostly delivered in terms of visuals, narrative, and, most importantly, gameplay.Tekken 8launched with a total of 32 playable characters, 29 of which have made at least one appearance in previous games throughout the series.Tekken 8 wasalso designed to be welcoming to newcomers, coming equipped with the most robust training tools seen in a fighting game. However, it’s not all been smooth sailing for one of Bandai Namco’s flagship franchisees, withTekken 8enduring negative reviews once again over monetization.
Tekken 8’s latest controversy revolves around the fighting game’s new stage, which is a separate purchase from Heihachi Mishima.Tekken 8’s new stage will run players a small $5 charge, but the principle is what is driving fans to review-bomb the game.Tekken 8’s recent reviews sit under the “Mostly Negative” category on Steam, with the game’s lifetime reviews sitting under the “Mixed” classification. Players expected the new Gemaki Temple stage DLC to be released for free, and while the price of admission is rather small, it seems this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. The game’s previous new stage came free with theaddition of Lidia Sobieska toTekken 8’s roster, making the recent omission even more perplexing.
Players Review Bomb Tekken 8 Over Monetization
Controversy first arose regardingTekken 8’s monetization due to the game’s cash shop being revealed after the fighting game was released. To make matters more complicated,Tekken 8launched in both a $100 Deluxe Editionand a $110 Ultimate Edition, which promised to grant access to additional costumes and the first year’s worth of added characters. WhileTekken 8is often praised for its gameplay, visual fidelity, and deeply rewarding combo system, players have a hard time ignoring its microtransactions.
Despite players primarily devoting their attention to the new $5 stage,Tekken 8’s recent update did bring back Heihachi Mishima, a character many thought was dead after the events ofTekken 7. Heihachi is the third new fighter offered in the Year 1 character pass, which also includes Eddy Gordo and Lidia Sobieska. While there’s certainly more to come withTekken 8, it’s unclear where the game will stand within the community a month or year from now.
