Tekken 8 Director Slams Fan Over Anna Williams' New Look: 'Unconstructive and Pointless'

Veteran Tekken 8 character Anna Williams is making a comeback, and her new design has sparked a range of reactions among fans. While the majority seem to appreciate the fresh look, a vocal minority has drawn comparisons to Santa Claus, expressing dissatisfaction with the redesign.

When a fan requested the return of Anna's classic design, Tekken's game director and chief producer, Katsuhiro Harada, responded firmly. He emphasized that the old designs are still available for those who prefer them, stating, "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you." Harada pointed out that while 98% of fans are embracing the new look, there will always be critics. He criticized the approach of some fans, saying, "You threaten to quit if she isn’t brought back. You complain the moment she is brought back. You demand that she be reverted after she has been completely redesigned from scratch, including her model and framework." He further noted that such demands are unconstructive and disrespectful to other fans who are excited about the new Anna.

In response to another comment criticizing the lack of rereleases of older Tekken games with modern netcode, Harada retorted, "Thank you for POINTLESS reply. You yourself are the joke. MUTED."

Despite the controversy, many fans have expressed positive sentiments about Anna's new design. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution shared, "Before she was announced I was hoping for an edgier, angry, violent Anna out for revenge for her fiance's death and so I'm quit happy with this design!" They also noted that while the coat reminded them of Christmas, other elements like the leotard, tights, boots, and gloves were well-received.

Other fans had mixed feelings. Troonpins remarked, "Love everything but the white feathers. It’s giving Santa Clause." Cheap_Ad4756 observed, "Aside from looking like Santa Claus, she looks a lot younger than she did in Tekken 7 and before. She looks like less of a 'woman' now and more like a girl. I don't get the dominatrix vibe from her at all anymore." Spiralqq was more critical, stating, "It’s another overdesigned T8 look, feels like almost every costume in this game lacks a real focal point and everyone is just decked out in 100 bulky accessories from head to toe. I’d like it a lot more without the coat, or at the very least if the whole outfit didn’t look like Santa cosplay."

The discussion around Anna's new outfit has been lively on platforms like Reddit, with fans sharing their thoughts and preferences. Meanwhile, Tekken 8 has achieved significant commercial success, selling 3 million copies within a year of its release, outpacing Tekken 7, which took a decade to reach 12 million copies worldwide.

In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game received a 9/10, with praise for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, engaging offline modes, new characters, robust training tools, and enhanced online experience. The review concluded, "By honoring its legacy, but continuing to move forward, Tekken 8 manages to stand out as something special."