Bandai Namco’s Director and Chief Producer of Fighting Games, Katsuhiro Harada, was feeling quite generous this morning on Twitter, sharing quite a number of juicy details about Tekken 8. Earlier he responded to a Twitter user’s question regarding crossplay for Tekken 8. In his response, Harada confirmed that crossplay will indeed be included in the upcoming game, despite previous obstacles in making it happen.
“Crossplay? Of course I will. BTW When the previous generation consoles were released, I had already proposed crossplay between the two platformers. However, at that time, they were at odds with each other over their mutual interests (and P2P security issue) & repeatedly refused.”
Harada went on to explain that there were still some problems with crossplay, but that it will be possible in Tekken 8:
“Remember when they announced they were open to crossplay a few years ago? But in reality, they didn’t actively support third parties at the time, and the hurdles were actually quite high. There are still some problems left, but it will be possible.”
For those unfamiliar, crossplay allows players from different platforms to play together in the same game, regardless of their chosen device. In other words, PlayStation users can play with Xbox users, and PC players can join in on the action as well. This feature has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason.
Firstly, crossplay increases the pool of players available for matchmaking, resulting in faster queue times and a more active player base. With crossplay, players no longer have to worry about their friends owning a different console or not being able to find opponents to play against.
Additionally, crossplay promotes inclusivity in gaming. Players are no longer restricted to playing with others who own the same console, breaking down barriers between communities and allowing players from different backgrounds to come together and enjoy the game.
Of course, there are still concerns regarding crossplay, such as balancing issues and the possibility of cheating. However, these issues can be mitigated with proper game design and anti-cheat measures.
In addition to confirming crossplay for Tekken 8, Harada also revealed that the game will feature improved rollback netcode. When a Twitter user asked about the status of rollback netcode in Tekken 8, Harada playfully responded with the following statement:
“Already installed it, and it already has what you want. The reason WHY we don’t make big announcements like cross-play is Cuz even if we make big announcements, people like you will only say things like, ‘waaaa! That’s normal in this day and age.’ So shut up & sit the hell down.”
Rollback netcode is a crucial feature for fighting games, as it helps to mitigate lag and provide a smoother online experience for players. Harada’s dedication to improving this feature in Tekken 8 shows that the team is committed to delivering a high-quality game for fans of the series.
Harada also alluded to Tekken 8 having a beta, but only after the closed alpha tests they are currently conducting is wrapped up, saying “We are still only doing closed alpha testing at each event, so please wait for the beta.”
It’s exciting to hear that Tekken 8 will be including these features, as it will undoubtedly enhance the experience for all players. Harada’s commitment to making crossplay and rollback a reality despite previous setbacks is a testament to the importance of this feature in modern gaming.
As Harada himself stated, it’s important for players to keep up with game news and announcements before bombarding developers with questions that have already been answered. With Tekken 8 being developed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, fans of the series have plenty to look forward to.
