Tekken 9 Should Atone For One of Its Predecessor’s Sins From The Get-Go

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The popular fighting game Tekken 8 continues to thrive past its first release, hinting at a promising future for the series. As fans start pondering the potential features of Tekken 9, there’s one aspect of the current edition that stands out as an area for improvement – the Ultimate Edition of Tekken 8. Despite being marketed as offering exclusive content to loyal players, many find it underwhelming as a polished version of the game.

Initially, the T8 game came out with three versions: Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate, each offering varying levels of extra content. Given that these editions primarily featured Avatar skins, they didn’t attract much attention. If Tekken 9 puts more emphasis on features integrated into its core gameplay, it could significantly enhance its reputation among fans when it revisits the concept.

Tekken 8’s Ultimate Edition Didn’t Live Up to the Format’s Expectations

A Handful of Customization Items Aren’t Typically Enough to Drive Sales

In terms of premium editions of games like Tekken 8, you’d typically find a comprehensive package that includes items such as an art book and lasting collectibles. However, Tekken 8’s Ultimate Edition, beyond a metal plate and stickers, doesn’t seem to offer much value for its high cost when considering the additional DLC. The only substantial content within the gameplay itself is a pack of gold customization outfits for characters, with the rest of the exclusive items being cosmetic options for the player’s avatar. This is a trend that both Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 developers have highlighted, but it seems that avatar skins only cater to a niche group of players who are more focused on the gameplay mechanics of this genre.

T8’s Microtransaction Shop Undermined Its Initial Bonus Content

In a way that doesn’t make it any stronger, the Deluxe Edition of Tekken 8 is primarily distinguished by its less robust customization features. The introduction of an in-game store within the game could potentially make these already questionable distinctions even more pronounced. Instead of being limited to repetitive gold clothing, players can now buy unique costumes for their preferred fighters, thus overshadowing the underutilized Avatar customization options.

Surpassing the Offerings of T8 Can Make Tekken 9’s Ultimate Edition More Than Worth the Hype

The Potential for More Than a Simple Season Pass and Avatar Skin Bundle

In essence, the current Ultimate Edition could be seen as an upgraded version of Tekken 8’s DLC fighters season pass, which some players find overpriced. However, this doesn’t have to remain the case in future games like Tekken 9. To avoid repeating past mistakes, Bandai Namco can introduce minor perks such as Avatar skins within the base game itself and provide a few sets of actual playable character outfits. Given their extensive catalog, there’s no need for the reward system in the next game to only offer a small pack of flashy gold customization options exclusively for the most dedicated players.

If microtransactions in Tekken 8 continue as a series trend, being transparent about their presence and using them to enhance player rewards could significantly boost trust. Instead of having an in-game store potentially diminishing the value of a future Ultimate Edition, it would be better for players to receive commensurate resources for engaging with the microtransaction system, considering a price point beyond $100.

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2025-01-31 22:56