In the past, social media was a lot simpler. From the late 90s to the late 00s, message boards were a prevalent way to engage with others who shared similar interests in gaming. Dedicated communities, such as Tekken, were defined by these early passageways of information.
Unfortunately, the increase in accessibility from other mediums over time causes website traffic to become stagnant. While sites such as GameFAQs continue to adhere to this formula, other websites that were once beacons for entire communities become archaic. Worst case scenario, such remnants of the past have no choice but to shut down.
Tekken Zaibatsu, one of the last remaining relics of this bygone era, shut its doors over the weekend. At its core, the website was known for being a significant source of information spanning across Tekken's history. These included promotional artwork, screenshots, and frame data for games in the series long before it became a staple in Tekken 7's DLC.
Beneath the surface lied the Zaibatsu message boards. Players of all skill levels congregated together, discussing the games and their strategies. Planning meet-ups for various sessions, local tournaments, and major tournaments was also common. It was a place for smack talk, but it was also a place where curious minds could find support among other fellow fans of the series.
The end of an era. After 20 years, Tekken Zaibatsu will be shutting down. Before other social media platforms became popular, Tekken Zaibatsu was the primary source of anything Tekken related. Shout outs to the OG's of TekZai! What was your Tekken Zaibatsu tag? #thankyoucastel #thankyouTZ from Tekken
With the rise of modern social media and community apps such as Twitter and Discord, these discussions moved elsewhere and traffic dwindled. The site owner, Castel, made the decision to shut down the forums in December but expressed interest in archiving the site for historical purposes. If one were to go to the Tekken Zaibatsu website now, they would be greeted with this:
Tekken Zaibatsu has been permanently closed, efforts are under way to find a new home for the Wiki and an archive of the forums. Thanks for visiting and the many memories. Game Over! Castel
The memories and effect that Tekken Zaibatsu had on various players and members were felt as several took to Twitter to share their experiences.
Source: toptier.gg