The Tekken 8 community has erupted in frustration following the release of the Season 2 update, which introduced several changes that have been met with significant backlash. The patch notes indicated a sweeping buff to character damage potential and offensive pressure, leading many fans to argue that the game has deviated from the traditional Tekken experience that they cherished.
Professional Tekken player JoKa voiced strong criticism, stating, "This does not feel like Tekken AT ALL." He elaborated on his concerns, pointing out that even slight buffs to characters, along with enhanced stance-based transitions and 50/50 situations, have disrupted the game's balance. JoKa also criticized the addition of new moves with little counterplay, the homogenization of characters, and the significant changes to oki and heat mechanics. He argued that the increased combo damage across the roster and the persistent chip damage from heat smashes have made the game less strategic and more reliant on 50/50 situations, moving away from Tekken's foundational gameplay.
T8 now hit the most negative reviews in a day since the day the Tekken Shop launched one year ago
The backlash has been palpable on Tekken 8's Steam page, where over 1,100 negative reviews have been posted in the last two days, pushing the game's recent reviews to a 'mostly negative' rating. Players have expressed their disappointment, with one review describing the game as "genuinely good [but] held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Another review lamented the new season's focus on "braindead easy mix up machine[s]" without any defensive buffs, while others criticized the balance team for prioritizing offense over defensive options.
Some fans feel so strongly about the changes that they are turning to Capcom's Street Fighter 6 as an alternative. Others have labeled Season 2 as the "worst patch in Tekken history," with several professional players threatening to abandon the game entirely. The sentiment was echoed by pro player Jesandy, who shared their disappointment on social media after dedicating significant time to prepare for the new season.
I don't know if I'll continue playing Tekken if this patch stays.
I'm sorry for doomposting, but I thought it had a chance to be a better game.
I'm just really sad.
Like depressed.
I streamed 70 hours of Tekken this past week to prep for s2 just to have those hopes shattered.
Gn.
Amidst the uproar, the community is now eagerly awaiting a response from the development team. Many are calling for the patch to be rolled back entirely, while others hope for an emergency follow-up patch to address the key issues raised by the players.
