Tekken’s Harada talks about guest characters and Tekken World Tour

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Originally published October 3, 2024.

The Tekken franchise first appeared in 1994, with Katsuhiro Harada serving as a consultant from its inception. By Tekken 3, he had advanced to co-director, and by the time of Tekken 6, he was the public figurehead for the series. Remarkably, I had the chance to interview Harada-san about his contributions to Tekken during a visit to London.

As a game creator, I’ve been pouring my heart into this project for three decades, yet it seldom crosses my mind the profound impact it has on so many lives. However, there are instances when someone from our dedicated community approaches me, sharing stories of unforgettable, positive memories they’ve created because of Tekken moments. Or how they’ve formed lasting friendships through our gaming community. In those heartwarming moments, I can’t help but be amazed at the profound influence I have on people’s lives.

From being a casual pastime enjoyed by teenagers hanging out in their living rooms on Friday nights, Tekken has transformed into a global phenomenon. Skilled players from all corners of the world journey across continents to participate in the Tekken World Tour, showcasing their talents and vying for supremacy. These tournaments take place in countries like the UK, USA, Australia, Thailand, Bolivia, Brazil, and numerous other locations worldwide, culminating in a grand finale in Japan. The upcoming release, Tekken 8, continues the series, and with its fanbase expanding over the past three decades, it takes more than just Harada-san’s efforts to manage everything efficiently.

Harada-san expresses: “The Tekken World Tour has expanded significantly, becoming intricate in its structure. Having visited numerous tournaments globally and interacted with the organizers, Michael [Murray, Tekken’s game designer] and I have established relationships with them already. Ideally, we can preserve these connections since the game serves as a continuation of our bond with the community.

Tekken is famed as the top-tier series in the 3D fighting game category, maintaining its significance over the years due to outstanding gameplay mechanics and strategic character collaborations. Tekken 7 attracted a multitude of novice players with the expansion of its roster, featuring characters like Street Fighter’s Akuma, Final Fantasy 15’s Noctis, and The Walking Dead’s Negan.

Games such as these garner interest from various sectors of the entertainment world, contributing significantly to Tekken 7 becoming the highest-selling Tekken game in history. This achievement holds true, considering even the timeless PS1 games that many people seemed to have possessed.

Harada-san clarifies: “When putting together our character lineup, many fans of the original Tekken series request more of their favorites. However, introducing guest characters helps attract people who aren’t necessarily Tekken followers, thereby expanding our audience. Although we don’t have any plans for this right now due to ongoing requests for classic Tekken characters, it’s possible that in the future, we may consider incorporating something similar, provided that the licensor is on board and the timing aligns properly.

In just a year since its release, Tekken 8 has emerged as one of the top fighting games to play in 2024 due to its well-loved roster and unique mechanical tweaks. This consensus is echoed by competitive players, as Tekken 8 secured the second spot at the EVO Championship 2024, boasting significantly more participants than the third-place game, and only trailing behind the powerful Street Fighter 6.

Regardless if you’re a dedicated esports enthusiast, a serious competitive player, or someone who enjoys casual gaming on the couch, there aren’t many games more enjoyable than Tekken 8.

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2025-05-06 12:37