One more new character remains yet to be released as part ofTekken 8’s first DLC character pass, and they have big shoes to fill after the shocking reveal of Heihachi Mishima earlier this year. Each seasonal character has come with their own surprising appeal, but autumn’s Heihachi set a new tone following Eddy and Lidia. While who will appear inTekken 8next seems rather uncertain, there are patterns and clues which indicate that a few fighters have better odds than most.
Although theories surrounding alleged leaks around the time ofTekken 8’s initial releasecentered on Marduk and Fahkumram, the later addition of Heihachi threw most predictions out the window. Only one of those can still occupy the final slot, but developer hints, the martial arts distribution of the current roster, and general momentum of character popularity all highlight different picks having more potential.
Tekken 8’s Winter DLC Character Was Directly Hinted at Months Ago
Attempting to Decode Harada’s Cryptic Animal Hints
Back in February,Tekkenseries lead Katsuhiro Haradashared a post on X/Twitter seemingly outlining the DLC roadmap through animal codenames:
This confusing set of hints hasn’t necessarily been a reliable source of speculation, but there is a potential precedent for its accuracy in terms of the appearance of Heihachi Mishima’s general hair silhouette compared to that of a koala’s head. It’s also entirely possible that these are development codenames without a basis in connection to design, as Lidia doesn’t seem to have any relation to raccoons.
Heihachi Proved That T8 is Focused on Subverting Expectations
The notion of aguest character inTekken 8has been explicitly dismissed by Harada himself, making it seem like far less of a possibility when compared to how major that gimmick was forT7. It’s also worth noting, however, that Harada also directly stated that Heihachi was permanently dead and not returning, before being contradicted only months later in a display of his willingness to mislead the fanbase for the sake of surprise. This makes a guest still possible, but there are also existing characters who easily fit into the current environment cultivated duringT8’s life so far.
One Tekken 8 DLC Candidate Matches the ‘Hamster’ Description Better Than Most
Why Bob’s Speed and Weight is Likely to Cap Off Tekken 8’s First Season
Known for his remarkable agility despite his large size and round figure, Bob Richards aligns notably well with the concept of a hamster as a codename. He’s been a base roster fighter since hisdebut inTekken 6, and his omission from the latest title on release has set up him for a dramatic return that could find its own niche of hype after the waves made by Heihachi. After the plot-heavy arrival of the Mishima monarch, it makes sense to end the DLC pass out on a more playful note which can catch many casual fans off-guard.
Female Characters or a Newcomer Still Have Fair Odds of Appearing
Several other contenders fit into the ‘hamster’ hint, and the general diversity of the roster might be better supported by one of the series' Muay Thai fighters. Women like Julia Chang, Anna Williams, or Kunimitsu would balance out the mostly male cast, but a totally new fighter might be a better pick than them because they have all already made climactic returns as DLC inT7. With the flexibility of the lore behind the dubiously canon Slim Bob though, there’s still room forBob inTekken 8to strike a balance between novelty and legacy alike.
Tekken 8
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.
