Tekken 8 Fans Outraged at Season 2 Changes, Pros Consider Quitting, Steam Reviews Plummet

The Tekken 8 community has been thrown into uproar following the Season 2 update, which introduced a series of changes that many players find contentious. The patch notes, detailing an increase in character damage potential and offensive pressure across the board, have sparked a debate over whether Tekken 8 is drifting away from its traditional roots.

Professional Tekken player JoKa has been vocal about his dissatisfaction, stating that the update has fundamentally altered the feel of the game. "This does not feel like Tekken AT ALL," he remarked. JoKa's concerns include the buffing of characters, even marginally, alongside the addition of more stance-based transitions that enhance 50/50 situations. He criticized the new moves for having little to no counterplay and pointed out the homogenization of characters, which he sees as a result of lazy balancing. JoKa also noted the reduction in defensive options and the increase in combo damage and heat buffs, questioning the logic behind these changes. While he acknowledged improvements in sidesteps, he argued that these are overshadowed by moves with excessive tracking and hitboxes. He also highlighted the continued issue of excessive chip damage and the shift away from strategic gameplay towards more 50/50 situations.

The backlash has been palpable on Tekken 8's Steam page, where the game has received over 1,100 negative reviews in the last two days, leading to a 'mostly negative' user review rating for recent reviews. One of the most upvoted reviews described the game as "genuinely good [but] held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Other reviews echoed the sentiment that the new season has turned characters into "braindead easy mix up machines" without any defensive buffs. Players feel that the balance team has focused too heavily on powerful offense, stripping away the defending player's agency. There's a growing concern that the game is becoming defined solely by character offense and unavoidable situations, which is seen as a departure from the legacy of Tekken.

The frustration has led some fans to abandon Tekken 8 in favor of Capcom's Street Fighter 6, while others label Season 2 as the "worst patch in Tekken history." Some professional players have even threatened to quit the game if the patch remains unchanged. A tweet from pro player Jesandy encapsulates the despair felt by many, expressing sadness and disappointment after dedicating significant time to prepare for the new season, only to have their hopes dashed.

In response to the outcry, the community is eagerly awaiting communication 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 players.