The Tekken 8 community has erupted in frustration following the Season 2 update, which introduced a series of changes that many players feel have deviated significantly from the traditional Tekken experience. The patch notes detailed an increase in character damage output and offensive capabilities, prompting backlash from players who believe the game has lost its core identity.
Professional Tekken player JoKa voiced his discontent, stating, "This does not feel like Tekken AT ALL." He criticized the update for buffing characters, enhancing stance-based transitions, and introducing new moves with little to no counterplay. JoKa argued that the changes have led to a homogenization of characters, stripping them of their unique identities and removing strategic depth in favor of more unpredictable 50/50 situations. He also expressed confusion over the nerfing of defensive options and the buffing of heat mechanics, which he believes disrupts the balance of the game.T8 now hit the most negative reviews in a day since the day the Tekken Shop launched one year ago
byu/YourGameTVlol inTekken
.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }The backlash has been particularly evident on Tekken 8's Steam page, where over 1,100 negative reviews have been posted in the last two days, leading to a 'mostly negative' recent user review rating. Players have taken to the platform to express their disappointment, with one review describing the game as a "genuinely good game held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Others lamented the lack of defensive options and the overemphasis on offensive play, feeling that it reduces player agency and turns the game into a series of uninteresting mix-ups.
The dissatisfaction has led some fans to switch to Capcom's Street Fighter 6, while others have labeled Season 2 as the "worst patch in Tekken history." Some professional players have even threatened to abandon Tekken 8 if the current patch remains unchanged.
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.— END | Jesandy (@Jesandy1572) April 1, 2025
In response to the outcry, the community is eagerly awaiting communication from the development team. Many are calling for either a complete rollback of the patch or an emergency update to address the most pressing issues raised by the players.
