Currently, the fighting game scene is all abuzz after Katsuhiro Harada, the mastermind behind the Tekken series, gave an indication that the new Tekken 8 could make its debut on the Nintendo Switch 2. When asked on this matter during a recent interview, Harada said it was “an interesting option” and “not completely off the table,” also acknowledging the amount of work it would take to get the game running on the new platform.
Harada pointed out that the Switch 2 is relatively strong in the market, making it tempting from a business standpoint. He mentioned that bringing it there would open up interest to even more people, but on the other hand, he emphasized the use of a different setup from PCs and usual consoles, which needs a lot of development work.
Some insiders in the industry think Harada is deliberately underplaying it, however. Tekken 8 already runs surprisingly well on the Steam Deck, and that device has less powerful hardware than what the Switch 2 is expected to have. That makes it hard to believe the port would be impossible, though it would not be simple either.
Adding fuel to the fire are leaks from international retail listings. These listings had Tekken 8 among such big names as Red Dead Redemption, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and Elden Ring on Switch 2. Those leaks came out months ago, which makes Harada’s “there’s nothing to announce” sound more like careful timing than a complete denial.
If true, it could be something that we hear at the next Nintendo Direct. A lot of people are watching for the rumored September event where, it is expected, new release dates will be provided for several anticipated titles, such as Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
The current lineup for Nintendo coming up already looks good, with Pokémon Legends: Z-A expected on October 16 and Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion on the way on September 5. If Tekken 8 were to feature, it would be one of the highest-profile fighting games to land on Nintendo consoles in recent years.
Well, probably because he enjoys keeping the community guessing. But given the game’s working capabilities on weaker systems and Nintendo’s humongous player base, it feels more of a ‘when’ for Tekken 8 on Switch 2 than ‘if.’ I remember playing Tekken on old Nintendo systems and always hoping for that console experience, full. If it happens, this could actually be the best version we’ve ever had on a Nintendo device. You may also be interested in: Sony’s PS3 Emulator for PS5 Could Be in the Works as Fans Push for Remasters
