Tekken 8 Boss Attempts Waffle House Crossover, Fails

For some time now, Tekken fans have been clamoring for a trip to Waffle House, but not in real life—rather, they want it as an in-game stage in Tekken 8. While the game's director, Katsuhiro Harada, has shown interest, there hasn't been any definitive response from Waffle House itself.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans who are still passionately requesting a Waffle House stage for Tekken 8. The demand has grown significantly, partly because Harada himself has expressed curiosity and a desire to learn more about it.

Harada stated that he "fully understands" the fans' requests. He has not only been contemplating the idea but has also taken steps to make it a reality. "Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," Harada shared on X/Twitter. He speculated that the lack of response might be because his projects are centered around "fighting-themed video games."

To be honest, within the bounds of what I can say, I fully understand your (you guys) request—that's precisely why I had considered taking on this challenge. In fact, I had already been thinking about it quite a while ago.

Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make… https://t.co/Sa5oSpk2IZ

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) May 13, 2025

Harada pointed out that "no response" is a rare occurrence. He also mentioned that if using a different name or format is acceptable, as long as "the core message is maintained," he would be willing to seriously reconsider and explore this possibility again.

It appears unlikely that Kazuya and Jin will soon be battling it out under the iconic yellow light of a Waffle House sign. However, a parody or an in-universe facsimile might still be on the table. Harada suggested "Hustle House" in another post, which could serve as a viable alternative.

Tekken 8 is currently rolling out a new update with Patch 2.01, following the announcement of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. Back in April, Harada addressed fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, reassuring players that the tuning team is working "around the clock" to incorporate feedback and make future improvements.