Casey Mitchell
Tekken 8 Delayed by Six Months After Street Fighter 6 Release Date
Two years ago, it was announced that two highly anticipated fighting games, Tekken 8 and rumoured Street Fighter 6, were scheduled to be released on the same day. Recognizing the potential clash, Katsuhiro Harada and Bandai Namco made the decision to delay the release of Tekken 8 until January 2024, six months after the speculated release date of Street Fighter 6.
In a video diary, Harada never directly mentions Street Fighter 6 by name, calling it only “that title.” However, based on the delay of approximately half a year, it can be inferred that Tekken 8’s initial release date was around July 2023. Interestingly, Street Fighter 6 was then released on June 2, 2023, making it the most likely candidate for the delay.
This revelation of identical release dates occurred two years ago, well before the official announcement of Mortal Kombat 1. Despite this coincidence, the delay of Tekken 8 also allowed it to avoid clashing with the release date of NetherRealm Studios’ latest fighting game, which was launched in September, as expected.
Beta Access Dates:
- Start Date: October 20, 2023
- Preload Availability:
- PS5: October 5, 2023
- Xbox and PC: October 10, 2023
Official Statement from Katsuhiro Harada:
In response to the situation, Katsuhiro Harada expressed his discontent on Twitter, stating, “It feels like I have no time to play games, despite being in the gaming industry.” While this tweet does not directly address the leaked beta and potential competitive advantages, it does highlight Harada’s frustration with the current situation.
Unfortunately, some PC players have managed to crack the beta update, gaining unauthorized access to the game ahead of its official release. This has led to leaked game footage surfacing on social media, raising concerns about unfair advantages for those who played early. Notably, Bandai Namco has previously promised to ban players who accessed cracked versions of the game during the previous Closed Network Test. However, no official comment has been made yet regarding the recent early beta access. Katsuhiro Harada expressed his frustration on Twitter, but the company’s stance remains unclear.
Tekken 8 is now set to be released on January 26, 2024. However, eager gamers who can’t wait can apply to take part in the closed beta test, which starts next week on October 20. This closed beta test is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Preloads for the beta have been available since October 5 on PS5 and October 10 on Xbox and PC, enabling players to dive right into the game as soon as the beta starts.
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