Tekken 8 Season 2 Sparks Mass Exodus as Pros and Fans Threaten to Quit

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Fans of the game Tekken 8 have been eagerly waiting for Season 2, as its release has been delayed several times by developers in order to preserve competitive fairness and ensure a well-polished update.

This update, with approximately 1500 alterations, is intended to serve as a revitalizing boost for Tekken 8, helping it regain its footing and replicate the triumphs of Tekken 7. A significant portion of its predecessor’s achievements didn’t occur at launch, but rather through seasonal updates that progressively improved the game over time.

On the other hand, many gamers consider Tekken 8 Season 2 a significant error due to the widespread criticism the update has received.

The game has been review bombed on Steam, Tekken’s biggest creators and pros are unhappy with the changes, and a number of genuinely game-breaking interactions have already been discovered.

Tekken 8 Season 2’s launch panned by players

Even before the launch of Tekken 8’s Season 2, the game was a subject of debate among fans. Compared to its predecessors, it was significantly more aggressive, offering players an increased number of “50/50” choices that required their opponent to make life-or-death guesses. This aspect made defending against various characters’ moves a risky endeavor, causing both competitive and casual gamers alike to feel frustrated.

As Season 2 drew near, developers unveiled potential defensive enhancements such as strengthened sidesteps, positioning the update as defense-oriented. They also reversed some break throw modifications following widespread community disapproval, and there was a palpable sense of anticipation regarding Anna’s comeback in the series.

As Streamer PhiDX, I hunkered down to delve into each character tweak, and it took me an impressive 16 hours to work my way through them all. This patch is colossal, brimming with buffs that even seasoned Tekken pros find daunting.

In Tekken 8, the developers enhanced defensive strategies by providing more 50/50 opportunities for characters, and additionally introduced homing moves for many characters to counteract sidestepping. Essentially, they fortified defensive choices and offered nearly every character fresh methods to neutralize these defenses.

Furthermore, the update significantly boosted the abilities of nearly all characters, introducing fresh maneuvers and fundamentally altering their overall strength.

There are also some new game-breaking bugs.

In the latest updates for Tekken 8, there seems to be a glitch in Paul’s unblockable moves following the alterations in F1+2. However, overall it looks like enjoyable changes!#T8_report @TEKKEN #t8_paul #TEKKEN8

— FALCO (@RGV_FALCO) April 1, 2025

For instance, Paul possesses a move sequence that can’t be stopped (an unstoppable combo). In general, Deep Dive has some issues, enabling him to cancel animations for certain moves more quickly than originally designed.

HAHAHAHAHAH #T8_PAUL

— c a l (@SNKCAALS) March 31, 2025

Apart from finding numerous Touch-of-Death combinations, players have also uncovered strategies approaching this feat, as well as challenging new string patterns that are tough to guard against.

This could be one of the wildest Tekken moves I’ve encountered so far. The sole strategy to defeat this latest Hugo Hulk Gamma Clap is by armoring up. You can neither step away from it nor repeatedly jab; instead, it loops back onto itself, and he can feign a jump making it unpredictable. What’s more, it originates from Jack’s i11 2,1 sequence. Incredible! (or something like that)

— END | Landon D (@Landon_D_) April 1, 2025

One of Jack’s latest moves poses a significant challenge to defend against. The final strike is tricky because it can’t be easily dodged by stepping out of the string, and even if he spams it repeatedly, it’s tough to evade. Moreover, it’s classified as a mid move, which means it’s impossible to duck unless you’re Xiaoyu or Zafina. The only dependable strategy is to armor through it, but that still leaves you open to taking damage.

In this update, the number of adjustments made to weaken characters (nerfs) was quite limited. Instead, they significantly increased the power of most characters except for a handful such as Shaheen and Hwoarang. This decision has led to an enormous wave of criticism that resembles biblical proportions.

Tekken 8 pros and streamers threaten to quit

A significant number of highly skilled Tekken players, including those who’ve reached major tournaments and turned their passion for the game into a profession, have voiced their disapproval towards this update.

In a recent statement, the Tekken legend Arslan Ash remarked, “Following the release of season 2, I must admit that we may not have fully appreciated all that season 1 had to offer.

Raef, another top-tier player, feels strongly that this latest Tekken update might just be the most problematic one yet. Speedkicks is urging for an immediate patch adjustment prior to the commencement of the Tekken World Tour, or potentially a full reset.

A newly acquired athlete, eager to leave his imprint in the year 2025, expressed dissatisfaction over recent modifications, despite his primary teammate, Bryan, receiving significant enhancements.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to admit, something’s off with my favorite game lately. It seems like every move I make is either a mash or a guess, and even the most intricate heat moves feel like they’re all heat smashes now. I’m hanging in there, but I can’t help but hope they’ll rewind things somehow.

— ONi | Tone (@hidetone) April 1, 2025

“I’m genuinely wondering what happened to the game I love,” he lamented.

Some skilled players such as Tetsu are pondering if they should shift from Fatal Fury or Street Fighter 6, as several of them weren’t content with the change from Tekken 7 to 8 and are even more displeased with the developers emphasizing on increasing aggression.

Up-and-coming pro Ty was even looking at job applications on stream.

all-timer Ty stream tonight

— alex (@eclipse_tkn) April 1, 2025

The latest Steam reviews for this game have taken a turn for the worse; they’ve plummeted to “Overwhelmingly Negative” and the general consensus has shifted towards “Mixed.

The second season was a disappointment. It appeared as if you all had been faking cooking skills for a year, but in reality, the project seemed doomed from its start.

Another person expressed their confusion about the developers’ decisions. They believe the game has immense potential, but instead of reducing the irritating aspects, they seem to be emphasizing them more. Currently, they wouldn’t recommend the game and fear that its quality may not improve.

Before the initial competitions of the Tekken World Tour kick off, developers have some time left to make necessary adjustments and patches to the game, ensuring a well-balanced competitive season ahead.

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2025-04-02 00:49