Tekken 8 Will Get Crossplay, Confirms Game’s Director

A number of fighting games are coming out this year, and Tekken 8 happens to be a major title from the genre. Given that it’s releasing after 8 years since Tekken 7, it is being heavily anticipated by fans of the franchise.

Crossplay is finally coming to Tekken

While we still don’t have a specific release date for the game, fans are not done speculating the details of Tekken 8. Recently, game director Katsuhiro Harada has elaborated on bringing cross-play to Tekken 8, confirming that cross-play is finally coming to the franchise. Here’s all we know.

In a Twitter response to a fan asking if we’re getting crossplay with this instalment, Harada wrote “Crossplay? Of course I will.” Crossplay is the ability to play multiplayer games from across different systems. If crossplay is indeed coming to Tekken 8, it will be a first for the franchise.

Crossplay? Of course I will.
BTW
When the previous generation consoles were released, I had already proposed crossplay between the two platformers. However, at that time, they were at odds with each other over their mutual interests (and P2P security issue) & repeatedly refused. https://t.co/I8b38YfePh

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) April 9, 2023

However, Harada has also explained very briefly why crossplay wasn’t included in the franchise earlier. He hinted at the rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation over their “mutual interests (and P2P security issue)”, which ultimately led to the repeated refusal. Harada further explained that back when both PlayStation and Xbox had first announced that they were open to crossplay, in reality they “didn’t actively support third parties at the time, and the hurdles were actually quite high.”

With this time too, Harada mentions that “There are still some problems left, but it will be possible,” confirming that Tekken 8 will get crossplay.

Remember when they announced they were open to crossplay a few years ago? But in reality, they didn’t actively support third parties at the time, and the hurdles were actually quite high.

There are still some problems left, but it will be possible. https://t.co/8riL6p2lbf

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) April 9, 2023

Tekken 8 is scheduled for launch this year. First announced last year in September, we’re being introduced to the roster of challengers. The latest was the gameplay trailer of Asuka Kazama and Leroy Smith. You can also check out IGN’s preview of the game here.