The highly anticipated "Tekken 8" Season 2 update has been controversial in the Fighting Game Community (FGC), with competitive players complaining about game-breaking alterations.
Bae 'Knee' Jae-Min, a pro player and past Evo champion, did not hold back when showing his frustrations. Describing the update as "selfish," the Korean gamer alleged it takes away the strategic depth from the game and caters more to new players than experienced veterans.
'Tekken 8' Mixed Reviews Continue to Soar
Though Season 2's launch brought a wave of players, it was swiftly followed by crushing negativity. According to Esports Insider, Steam reviews plummeted, and for reasons such as unpopular balance updates, oversimplified mechanics, and lost legacy systems.
The overall sentiment within the community shifted rapidly, implying that the new direction being headed by the developers valued accessibility over competitive integrity.
Knee Calls Out 'Tekken 8's' New Direction
Knee went to the social media site X to share gameplay videos and analyze what he feels is amiss in Season 2. He highlighted how detrimental the update is for veteran players who have spent years becoming proficient in intricate mechanics.
I don't want to play this way, but this is the best. pic.twitter.com/EyG88QeA7W
— DRX｜KNEE (@holyknee) April 10, 2025
He cited three key issues. The first one is the overpowered combos that are now too long and powerful. The second one is the simplified mind game. Strategy depth has been reduced, with the game playing "boring" and overly easy to control.
The third and last issue is the unbalanced Heat System. The Heat mechanic, which used to be high-risk, high-reward, now enables high-power moves at low risk, eliminating the requirement for timing and accuracy.
Legacy Skills Made Obsolete
One of the loudest complaints was the elimination of legacy mechanics that previously rewarded good players. Knee described how some parry moves and strategic counters have been taken away from the game.
"The legacy knowledge has just been removed. Air moves can't be low parried, and hold moves can't be parried. So we have no way to [be tactical] in certain situations. Did it have to be removed?"
While the pro community fears long-term damage of this update, "Tekken" series director Katsuhiro Harada did not think the backlash is "unjustified" at all. He treated it as a "natural occurrence," suggesting that the update will push through.
I personally do not think this backlash is at all unjustified.
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) April 15, 2025
I recognize that it is a natural occurrence and we have no choice but to respond by continuing to update. https://t.co/h9DATYkSQz
He assured that more updates, including parameter adjustments for arts and each character, will be rolled out. They will be a part of the future balance adjustment policy.
