Tekken 8 release date: UK launch time, pre-order and latest news

The new entry in the franchise serves fans with plenty of major changes to the game, including the introduction of a new Rage and Heat system, a recovery gauge, a fresh Arcade Quest mode, and much more.

Of course, the main draw is the 32 playable characters that will be part of the Tekken 8 roster, from Eddy Gordo and Ling Xiaoyu to King II and Panda. There's a fighter to fit everyone's style.

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Unveiled to the world in September 2022, fans were wowed by the next-gen graphics and updated characters.

Since then, we've had numerous trailers, gameplay showcases and deep dives into each character that will feature.

So, if you’re looking to get started with the fighting game, then you're in luck: we've rounded up exactly when you get your hands on Tekken 8 – including its release date and release time in the UK – alongside where to pre-order all of the many different editions. Read on for all the details.

Tekken 8 release date

Bandai Namco has confirmed that Tekken 8 will be released on 26th January 2024.

The game was officially announced in September 2022, during Sony's State of Play showcase, so thankfully fans haven't had to wait too long to get their hands on the finished product.

When is the Tekken 8 release time? UK launch explained

Tekken 8 is set for a simultaneous global release at 8am JST (Japenese Standard Time) on Friday 26th January 2024.

This means that those living in the UK can start playing the game from 11pm on Thursday 25th January. It's a rare occurrence these days, but it does mean you can jump in one hour earlier than its official launch date to get a headstart, if interested.

Can I pre-order Tekken 8?

Pre-orders are now available ahead of Tekken 8's launch in the coming days. There are several editions available: Standard, Launch Edition, Deluxe Edition, Ultimate Edition and the extravagant Collector's Edition.

If you pre-order any of these editions, you'll get costumes for the Arcade Quest mode modelled after Paul - and Mokujin and Tetsujin, if you're playing on PlayStation 5.

On PS5, you can pre-order the Launch Edition for £64.99, the Ultimate Edition for £99.99 or the Collector's Edition for £269.99 from GAME.

For Xbox Series X/S, the Launch Edition can be had for £64.99 or the Ultimate Edition for £99.99 from GAME, while the Collector's Edition is £269.99 on Amazon.

For PC, Tekken 8 can be yours for a little cheaper over on CDKeys, with the Standard Edition setting you back £34.99, the Deluxe Edition for £58.99 and the Ultimate Edition costing £63.99.

If you're wondering what's included in each version – we've got you! Below is the lowdown on what you'll be getting for your pennies.

Launch Edition

• Full game
• Burning Chain Metal Plate
• Corporation Stickers

Ultimate Edition

• Full Game
• Burning Chain Metal Plate
• Corporation Stickers
• Avatar Costume: Paul Phoenix Set
• Character Costume: Gold Suit Pack (32 Costumes)
• Avatar Skin: KinJin
• Playable Character Year 1 Pass (4 Additional Playable Characters)
• Avatar Costume: Classic Tekken T-shirt Set (32 Designs)
• Avatar Skins: Kazuya Mishima, Jin Kazama and Jun Kazama

Collector's Edition

• Premium Collector’s Edition Box
• Full Game
• Special Face-Off Steelbook
• Corporation Stickers
• Burning Chain Metal Plate
• Exclusive Jin Figurine (Not electrified)
• 8x Glossy Collectible Cards
• Leroy Smith Metal Ring with Velvet Pouch
• Arcade Token (5cm)
• Paul Phoenix Avatar Costume
• Character Costume: Gold Suit Pack (32 Costumes)
• Avatar Skin KinJin
• Playable Character Year 1 Pass (4 Additional playable characters)
• Avatar Costume: Classic Tekken T-shirt set (32 Designs)
• Avatar Skins: Kazuya Mishima, Jin Kazama and Jun Kazama

Which consoles and platforms can play Tekken 8?

Tekken 8 is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Microsft Windows (PC).

Sadly, there is no sign of a Switch port and the game appears to be skipping out on the last-gen PS4 and Xbox One. This is more than likely due to the technical limitations of the older hardware and the game’s use of Unreal Engine 5.

Tekken 8 gameplay and story details

Tekken 8 is picking up from where Tekken 7 left off, continuing the record of Tekken being the game series with the longest ongoing story.

According to the PlayStation Blog: "This new entry will focus on the father and son showdown between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama."

Outside of that and what was seen in the reveal trailer (see below), little else is known about the storyline of Tekken 8. We’ll have to wait and find out when the game eventually releases and we can play through the story mode.

In terms of gameplay, expect Tekken 8 to play like a Tekken title with 3D arenas to fight in and flashy attacks. Since its initial reveal, we have been learning more and more about Tekken 8 gameplay. The development team released a 36-minute gameplay video, which details Rage, Heat, the game's recovery system and more details. It's well worth a watch if you want to know what's new in Tekken 8 compared to 7.

We do know that its online mode makes use of rollback netcode, too. This should help ensure your online battles are as smooth as possible. Best of all, Tekken 8 is also confirmed to have crossplay.

Thanks to being developed on Unreal Engine 5, too, Tekken 8 looks phenomenal in what we’ve seen. The character models, weather effects and astonishingly detailed backgrounds are all taking advantage of the power of the Xbox Series X and PS5.

Is there a Tekken 8 trailer?

Bandai Namco officially announced Tekken 8 as part of Sony's State of Play in September 2022. The full reveal can be seen below:

An official story trailer was uploaded by Bandai Namco in December 2023, teasing what fans can expect from the newest instalment.

And, better yet, Bandai Namco teamed up with Succession star Brian Cox for a video dedicated to catching newcomers up on the narrative behind Tekken. As far as PR stunts go, this is a pretty good one. Watch the "Story So Far" trailer below:

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