Several unannounced Tekken 8 characters potentially leaked after fans dig into game files of closed network test
Bandai Namco is running their second closed network test for Tekken 8 this weekend. Beginning today, those who got in on the PlayStation 5 last time, and those selected to participate on Xbox Series X|S and PC, can hop in and try out the upcoming game before its launch.
Much like PC savvy fans tend to do, when given the opportunity to poke around within the game's files... they take it. Using Cheat Engine, some fans have dug into the build for the closed network test and have discovered what very well could be potentially unannounced playable characters for Tekken 8.
Several players have been reporting a list of files that reference all of the characters currently available in the network test, as well as a handful of new names that we haven't seen confirmed for Tekken 8 just yet.
The list of character names reads as follows:
• Paul Phoenix
• Marshall Law
• King
• Hwoarang
• Ling Xiaoyu
• Jin Kazama
• Bryan Fury
• Kazuya Mishima
• Jack-8
• Asuka Kazama
• Lili
• Lars Alexandersson
• Claudio Serafino
• Nina Williams
• Leroy Smith
• Jun Kazama
• Yoshimitsu
• Shaheen
• Raven (Default Type A)
• Zafina (Default Type A)
• Steve (Default Type A)
• Alisa (Default Type A)
Of the above list, the first 16 fighters make up the currently announced roster — all of which are available to play in the closed network test. The names we haven't seen or heard anywhere else in an official capacity include Yoshimitsu, Shaheen, Raven, Zafina, Steve, and Alisa.
At this time, fans believe that this isn't actually the full launch roster for Tekken 8. Instead, this list likely comprises the names of the characters that are currently developed enough to have been considered to be in the closed network test.
As Reddit user Trem45 points out, it is also likely that this isn't the final and full launch roster due to the fact that series staples like Kuma are still missing. Kuma has been a playable fighter in every mainline Tekken game that has ever been released, so it would be odd to leave the big bear out.
Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada mentioned earlier this year that Tekken 8 will likely have a much larger launch roster than Capcom's Street Fighter 6. The latest Street Fighter title launched on June 2, 2023, with 18 fighters, and Tekken 8 is currently already at 16 officially announced combatants.
With the potentially leaked characters, that would bring Tekken 8's launch roster up to 22. Though this is definitely more than Street Fighter 6, it doesn't quite feel like the "a lot more" that Harada said before, which adds further credence to the speculation that this list isn't the full launch roster.
Though digging into the game files can definitely reveal legitimate secrets about an upcoming title, it is always best to take anything unconfirmed with a grain of salt. That being said, this list looks like it could be accurate as the additional names are well within reason for a Tekken launch cast.
Tekken 8 currently does not have an official release date. When it does drop, it'll be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Source: EventHubs
