Tekken 8 Season 2 Changes Spark Outrage, Pros Threaten Boycott, Steam Reviews Plummet

The Tekken 8 community has erupted in frustration following the Season 2 update, which introduced significant changes that many fans argue have deviated from the game's traditional essence. The patch notes outlined a universal increase in character damage and offensive pressure, prompting backlash from players who feel that these alterations have shifted the game away from the classic Tekken experience.

Professional Tekken player JoKa voiced his concerns, stating that the Season 2 update has transformed the game to the point where "this does not feel like Tekken AT ALL." He elaborated on the issues, saying, "Characters getting buffed even in the slightest is not the way, along with more stance-based transitions where 50/50 situations are enhanced. Some of the new moves added are insane with little to no counterplay. Characters getting their weaknesses patched and identities being removed by homogenisation is lazy balancing. Oki being gutted and heat just getting buffed makes no sense. Combo damage is too much across the whole roster. I definitely think the sidesteps are better but does that really matter when moves exist with crazy tracking/hitboxes? Chip damage is still excessive with most heat smashes remaining the same. Removing strategy in favor of more 50/50 situations isn't interesting gameplay and is moving away from the foundation of Tekken. Where are the defensive options that were mentioned?"

T8 now hit the most negative reviews in a day since the day the Tekken Shop launched one year ago
byu/YourGameTVlol inTekken

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }As expected, the Steam page for Tekken 8 has become a platform for players to voice their dissatisfaction. The game has been inundated with over 1,100 negative reviews in the past two days, leading to a 'mostly negative' user review rating for recent reviews.

One of the most upvoted reviews states, "Genuinely good game held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Another review criticizes the update, saying, "New season dropped and they made every character into a braindead easy mix up machine without a single buff to defense." A third negative review expresses frustration over the balance changes, "After promising changes to open up defensive options, the balance team has doubled down on extremely powerful offense that takes away all agency from the defending player." Additionally, another review laments, "Not every character needs to be able to force 50/50 canned mixups constantly, but it seems like the balance team doesn't have any other ideas for how to build characters at this point. It's just a shame to see another legacy fighting game become entirely defined by character offense and situations with little to no response from the defender."

In response to these changes, some Tekken enthusiasts are abandoning the game for Capcom's Street Fighter 6. Others have labeled Season 2 as the "worst patch in Tekken history," with professional players even threatening to abandon Tekken 8 altogether.

I don't know if I'll continue playing Tekken if this patch stays.
I'm sorry for doomposting, but I thought it had a chance to be a better game.
I'm just really sad.
Like depressed.
I streamed 70 hours of Tekken this past week to prep for s2 just to have those hopes shattered.
Gn.

— END | Jesandy (@Jesandy1572) April 1, 2025

The community is now eagerly awaiting a response from the development team addressing these complaints. Some are calling for the patch to be completely reverted, while others are hoping for an emergency follow-up patch to implement crucial adjustments.