Tekken 8 Season 2 update has been out for months, but instead of excitement, the community feels stuck in frustration. Pro players, content creators, and fans continue calling out the lack of real balance changes, despite repeated apologies and promises from the developers. The update has now dragged on for over 150 days, and many believe the situation has only worsened.

[TEKKEN 8] Update Data v.2.01.00 Patch Notes
byu/Xanek inTekken

Pro Players Want Balance in Tekken 8 Season 2

Competitive players such as Arsenal, Ash, and Joe Crush have openly stated at EVO and on social media that they don’t want balance updates delayed for tournaments. They want immediate fixes to keep the game competitive. Despite this, developers have stayed silent on major adjustments. This silence has led to growing concerns that Tekken 8 Season 2 update risks alienating the very pros who keep the scene alive.

Meanwhile, tweets from Harada addressing character proportions have sparked discussions around visual changes, with players like Dell asking for fixes to character models and lighting. Even though some small tweaks arrived, bigger balance concerns remain untouched.

Community Feedback on Tekken 8 Season 2 Update

Players like Nikatu and content creators such as Bogard have voiced strong criticism. Bogard noted that developers apologized for Season 2 issues but failed to follow up with meaningful action. Instead, players are seeing recycled monetization—like costumes from Tekken 7—rather than new designs or balance adjustments.

Michael Murray and other developers stated in interviews that they welcomed criticism, but the lack of visible changes has made that reassurance feel hollow. Many in the community see five months of promises without results as a breaking point.

Tekken 8 Season 2 Update vs. Monetization

A recurring complaint is that while balance updates are stalled, monetization moves forward. Players are asked to buy old Tekken 7 content, such as Devil Jin’s outfit, instead of receiving fresh additions. This creates the impression that money comes before gameplay.

Bogard summed it up by saying that the developers pledged to restore trust, but their actions show otherwise. Without new balance patches, fans feel the Tekken 8 Season 2 update is just more of the same—light fixes, recycled battle passes, and not enough substance.

Since the topic of About Ki Charge and other system updates came up, I’ll make a comment.

I understand that there are various opinions. However, at the time of writing this, players have not yet had the chance to play the updated version of the build. So, we would really…

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) March 24, 2025

Can Tekken 8 Season 2 Update Recover?

Some improvements have been noted, such as Faul being stronger compared to Anna. But many argue that fundamental issues remain. Moves that break character design, like certain additions for Yoshimitsu and King, have gone unchecked. Players are even calling for moves to be outright removed—something never before done in Tekken.

Pros like Arceline have compared Tekken 8 unfavorably to other fighters like King of Fighters, pointing out that defense is undervalued. Others, like Mike Hollow, now treat Tekken 8 as a party game rather than a serious fighter.

Armor King’s release may provide a short-term boost, but without core changes, the Tekken 8 Season 2 update risks permanently losing its competitive base. Many believe this is the last chance for developers to prove their promises aren’t empty.