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

The Tekken 8 community has erupted in frustration following the Season 2 update, which introduced a series of changes that many players find contentious. The patch notes disclosed a sweeping increase in character damage potential and offensive capabilities, leading some fans to argue that the game has diverged significantly from the traditional Tekken experience.

Professional Tekken player JoKa voiced strong disapproval, stating that the Season 2 update has transformed the game to the point where "this does not feel like Tekken AT ALL." He criticized the buffs to characters, the enhancement of stance-based transitions and 50/50 situations, and the addition of new moves with minimal counterplay. JoKa also pointed out the perceived homogenization of characters, the removal of their unique identities, and the imbalance in offensive and defensive mechanics. He questioned the lack of promised defensive options and expressed concern over the increased combo damage and chip damage.

The backlash has been palpable on Tekken 8's Steam page, which has seen an influx of over 1,100 negative reviews in the last two days, pushing the game's recent user review rating to 'mostly negative'. One of the top reviews described the game as "genuinely good but held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Other reviews lamented the shift towards offensive play without corresponding defensive buffs, criticizing the balance team for focusing on powerful offense that strips away player agency.

The dissatisfaction has led some fans to abandon Tekken 8 in favor of 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 quit the game if the patch remains unchanged.

T8 now hit the most negative reviews in a day since the day the Tekken Shop launched one year ago by YourGameTVlol in Tekken

Amidst the uproar, the community is eagerly awaiting a response from the development team. Many are calling for the patch to be rolled back entirely, while others are hoping for an emergency follow-up patch to address the key issues raised by players.

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