Tekken 8 is getting a change to its storefront, introducing a new "fight pass" feature. This
Tekken 8 is getting a change to its storefront, introducing a new "fight pass" feature. This works the same as a battle pass in other games, with a premium tier charging players an extra fee for exclusive, more sought-after items.
Unsurprisingly, fans aren't happy with this at all. Not only is this getting snuck in post-launch, but it's also being added to a game that's already full of microtransactions, including an ultimate pack containing more skins and a season pass that unlocks new characters. Combine that with the base game's $69.99 price tag, and it's easy to see why players aren't happy with Bandai Namco .
As reported by VGC , the new fight pass was announced during the Tekken Talk livestream. This was mostly focused on the first DLC fighter, Eddy Gordo , who's joining the roster in an update later today. However, Bandai Namco also used the opportunity to reveal changes to how the game is monetised, and it means that anyone looking to get everything in-game is going to have to make even more purchases.
"F*ck that, adding micro-transactions to a full price game is a JOKE," says Reddit user heel_Saint, in a thread about the changes. "Boycott Tekken."
"First Tekken shop, and now battle pass," agrees Phantasmicerror2. "The dark times are upon us."
While fighting games have long been full of live service monetisation practices - even when they're not free-to-play - most are at least upfront with this, including them from launch day. Many are disappointed to see Bandai Namco implement this after launch, when it's too late many players who want to avoid these kinds of practices to boycott the game.
The fight pass will be added to Tekken 8 in the next patch, which is set to go live later today. Like other battle passes, the fight pass will add daily and weekly missions to speed up progression. As for the premium tier, the official website says that its items are "even more luxurious", and it will also allow players to earn Tekken Coins - suggesting that this won't be a feature on the free fight pass tier.
Today's update will also add Eddy Gordo to the game. However, for the first three days, he'll only be playable if you have the season pass, as there's a 72-hour early access period. Other than that, we can expect bug fixes and some quality-of-life changes to be rolled out.
