In the past few hours, Bandai Namco has revealed a lot of information about Teck 8included new gameplay mechanics like the new Rage system. Today’s biggest reveal, however, is that a closed alpha test has been announced! Fans hoping for an online test are out of luck, as it appears Bandai Namco will be conducting the tests “in select locations around the world to collect combat system feedback.” The first of these will take place at EVO Japan 2023, which will be held from March 31 through April 2. Mandatory requirements include registration for the Teck 7 tournament and an application “through a dedicated website opening in February.” A lottery will be held with a large number of registrations.
In addition to news about the Closed Alpha Test, Bandai Namco revealed that Teck 8 will see the return of Nina Williams. A trailer featuring the character was shown, which is embedded below.
Naturally, many fans on social media are disappointed with the Closed Alpha Test! Many hoped that Bandai Namco would open it up to the general public, or at least a wider variety of players. Restricting these tests to in-person events will make it a lot more difficult for players to participate, although an online test may be announced at a later date. Some even speculate that it could mean that Teck 8 won’t be released until next year, but no release window is provided at the time of writing.
Scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, Teck 8 is the next installment of the beloved fighting game franchise. The original Tekken released to arcades in 1994, and had its first home console release on the original PlayStation in 1995. Given that a 2024 release for Teck 8 would come just in time for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, so it doesn’t seem hard to think that fans might be waiting until next year. Of course, any kind of release window can change based on fan feedback, so we’ll just have to wait and see!
Are you excited for Teck 8? What do you think of this Closed Alpha Test? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter and on Hive at @Marcdachamp to talk about all things gaming!
