Tekken 8's announcement at the recent Sony State of Play event has been a long time coming. The seven-year wait between Tekken 7's arcade launch and the announcement of the eighth installment in the series represents the largest gap between releases in Tekken's 28-year history. This is partly due to the constant updates and fresh content developer Bandai Namco has been providing Tekken 7 with, which has ensured the game has stayed relevant for such a long period of time. Even with so many fans still enjoying the latest game, though, it can't be denied that the time feels right for the next installment of the beloved fighting franchise to emerge. With a vast catalog of fighters spanning three decades, there are some favorites that we would love to see making a return.
Tekken has accumulated a large roster since its inception. Some characters such as Paul Phoenix and Nina Williams have been ever-present, and their involvement in the new game seems a forgone conclusion. Other characters have been rotated around, with some only appearing in one or two of the mainline games, despite being important to the plot in one way or another. Not all characters share equal popularity among fans, but each of them is unique in their own way. There are five characters in particular that would be great to see featured in Tekken 8.
Jun Kazama
Despite only actually starring in one mainline Tekken game, Tekken 2, Jun Kazama is undeniably an integral part of Tekken's lore. Jun's relationship with Kazuya Mishima was one of the focal points of Tekken 2, and ultimately she tried but failed to save him from the dark path he was on. The mother of protagonist Jin Kazama, Jun was presumably killed by Ogre prior to the events of Tekken 3 leaving a heartbroken Jin swearing revenge, but her body was never recovered. Her official status is 'unknown', and after a long absence, not counting the non-canon Tekken Tag Tournament games, now is a great time to bring her back. A speedy, agile and powerful fighter, Jun would be a great addition to Tekken 8.
Ancient Ogre
Antagonists in Tekken usually have the last name Mishima, but Ancient Ogre represented the first exception to this rule as the main villain of Tekken 3. Ogre is a powerful sentient being able to crush opponents with his bare fists as well as using devastating fire attacks. The so-called God of Fighting roams the world seeking to absorb the souls of the most powerful fighters on Earth, in order to enhance his power. He is sought out by Heihachi, who is looking to use him to create the ultimate life form. This plot ultimately fails when Ogre is defeated by Jin Kazama, avenging the death of his mother, at the climax of Tekken 3. Ogre has been presumed dead ever since, but a universe as complex as Tekken's could surely find a way to bring him back into the fold for Tekken 8.
Heihachi Mishima
A Tekken game absent Heihachi seems unthinkable. The Patriarch of the Mishima family, Heihachi has been ever-present since his debut in the original Tekken. While he's gotten older (and grayer), his fierce, brutal fighting style has been honed over many years of training, and he remains a formidable adversary for any opponent. Despite seemingly dodging death multiple times in the franchise's history, Heihachi seemingly met his end at the climax of Tekken 7, where he was finally killed at the hands of his son Kazuya. This is Heihachi Mishima, though, and if there's anyone that can subvert expectations, it's definitely him. It would shock absolutely no one if he somehow turned up, and fans will be hoping he does - a Tekken game without him just wouldn't feel right.
Baek Doo San
Baek Doo-San was first introduced way back in Tekken 2. A fierce warrior and master of Tae Kwon Do, Baek is the teacher and friend of popular character Hwoarang. After Baek was presumed dead at the hands of Ogre prior to events in Tekken 3, Hwoarang took his place in the next tournament, and this seemed to signal a shift in the series' focus, with Hwoarang becoming the mainstay and Baek relegated to fleeting appearances. Baek's last canonical appearance was in Tekken 6, where he once again enters, but fails to win, The King of Iron Fist Tournament. He has not been seen since, with many fans expecting him to return in Tekken 7 as a DLC fighter. But this could change with his inclusion in Tekken 8.
Kazama Kiryu
This may be a wildcard entry, but the main protagonist of the popular Yakuza series, Kazama Kiryu, seems like an obvious fit for the Tekken franchise. Tekken 7 had a number of licensed guest characters from other IPs ranging from Akuma (Street Fighter) who actually had a significant role in the story, through to Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy 15), a DLC character who had no bearing on the canonical story. Kiryu is a master of martial arts, and his visual style, as well as his fighting style, would fit in perfectly within the Tekken universe. The Dragon of Dojima would be a force to be reckoned with in the King of Iron Fist Tournament, and would surely reach the later rounds with ease.
The main issue which would make his inclusion difficult is that Yakuza's creator, Toshihiro Nagoshi, has gone on record to say he would have a hard time sanctioning Kiryu appearing in a fighting game, as fighting games tend to include women characters and he would not want to see Kiryu attacking a woman. This is a perfectly understandable stance to take, though Toshihiro Nagoshi left SEGA and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio last year, which could open up the door for a U-turn of sorts. Either way though, Kiryu's inclusion would be an incredibly exciting one.
Whichever characters end up appearing in Tekken 8, the game is sure to include a jam-packed roster full of popular fighting characters from the series as well as some new faces, and there should be something to cater to most styles of play.
Tekken 8 is currently in development.