Summary
- Tekken 8's addition of microtransactions has caused mixed reviews on Steam, with fans upset over in-game purchases.
- Fans criticize Bandai Namco for implementing a Battle Pass and in-game shop in a fully priced $70 game like Tekken 8.
- Negative Steam reviews highlight fan frustration with Bandai Namco's focus on monetization over addressing game balance issues.
Following the controversial addition of the Battle Pass and microtransactions in Tekken 8's latest update, its recent Steam review status is now sitting at mixed. Tekken 8 originally launched this past January to rave reviews from fans and critics, where it became one of 2024's highest-rated games alongside Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. While the game still has a mostly positive reception, perception of the game has started shifting to be a bit more negative than what it received at launch, due to some controversial post-launch announcements involving microtransactions.
Fully priced triple-A games having microtransactions is a controversial gaming trend. Tekken 8 is another game that has implemented them, with the title garnering controversy when an in-game shop feature was added in late February. Fans slammed the game for its implementation, as Tekken 8 was already fully priced at the new standard of $70, but still had in-game cosmetics that needed to be bought with real money. Fans got even more upset when Tekken 8 announced a Battle Pass, with the backlash reflected in the most recent reviews for the game.
Tekken 8 Director Comments on Whether He Will Be Involved in Tekken 9
The director and producer of Tekken 8 comments on his involvement in a possible ninth mainline entry in the long-running fighting game series.
Following Tekken 8's latest update, some of the recently posted reviews on Tekken 8's Steam page have been negative, where out of 3135 reviews, the score has been brought down to "mixed." While the game maintains a "very positive" rating among the 16,000+ reviews it received, fans are using the Steam reviews in order to air their grievances about Bandai Namco and criticize the publisher's recent decisions with Tekken 8.
Recent Tekken 8 Steam Reviews (as of April 7, 2024)
Many of these negative reviews were about Tekken 8's in-game shop and recent battle pass, with some users calling Bandai Namco greedy in the process for pulling a bait-and-switch by including these features. Users also criticized how Bandai Namco had prioritized monetizing a game that already costs $70 over addressing other issues, such as the number of rage quitters who were unplugging during a match or the balance issues seen with Tekken 8's roster and mechanics. One user even voiced their grievances about Bandai Namco taking down fan-made Tekken 8 mods instead of balancing the game, calling it "laughable" as well.
The main crux of the issue, according to fans, was that Bandai Namco wasn't upfront about Tekken 8's microtransactions and battle pass before launch, and instead held off on its announcement and inclusion until after the game was released and fans had already bought it. While Tekken 8's director had provided an explanation of why an in-game shop was implemented, this hasn't stopped fans from airing their concerns about these controversial practices.
Tekken 8
- Released
- January 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Bandai Namco's Tekken 8 is the franchise's debut entry on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the fighting game is built in Unreal Engine 5. The story revolves around Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama's relationship.
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Metascore
- 90
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
