Gaming

TEKKEN 8 is friendly to first-timers

And players who skipped a few games too

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TEKKEN 8 Thailand

Fighting games from my childhood have been springing back to life in the current console generation. However, being away from such games for a big chunk of time, I’ve been hesitant to approach any of them again. Thankfully, BANDAI NAMCO flew us to Bangkok for the Thailand Game Show 2023 where I not only got to try the game, I also had the chance to speak with TEKKEN 8 Producer Michael Murray. 

There are a handful of things at the Thailand Game Show 2023 that reignited my interest in TEKKEN. There’s the main story showcase, a returning, game mode, and my brief time playing. 

New players always considered

TEKKEN has one of, if not the, longest running story in video games. This means it can be daunting to jump into a new game. Selfishly floating the question for myself, I asked Murray how welcoming TEKKEN 8 will be to both new players and players that may have skipped a few games from the franchise. He said they always make sure each game is “a good entry point.” 

“In the gallery, people can check out what happened in each installment of TEKKEN so they can get a primer. Also, if you have Netflix, the Netflix animé is a good starting point because it focuses on Jin, Jun, and that background story.” 

But if you don’t want to do all of that, he did say, “you don’t necessarily have to have played the previous installments to enjoy it [TEKKEN 8].” 

Game modes and features for new players

TEKKEN 8 also has plenty of features to welcome newcomers and returnees. There’s a Replay and Tips feature that’s not a straight-up tutorial. It lets you get into a certain situation where you might have messed up. It then gives you tips on what you could’ve done instead. 

You are then shown how much window you had to block, counter, or what-have-you, to get out of that situation and perhaps turn the match around into your favor. 

They also built the Tekken Fight Lounge which Murray describes as a sort of love letter to Arcade Culture. Traditionally, TEKKEN games are released on Arcade first, followed by consoles and PC. That’s not the case with TEKKEN 8, so they just built an Arcade-like feel in the game instead. Murray said they see it as a place where players can hangout, maybe forge rivalries, but more than anything, be part of a community. 

And then there’s Arcade Quest that teaches more about both TEKKEN 8 and the whole Tekken franchise in general.

Tekken Ball is back! 

A fan-favorite when it first came out in TEKKEN 3, Tekken Ball is a mini-game that plays like beach volleyball and dodgeball combined but still using the techniques at each characters’ disposal. 

The mini-game can be accessed through the Tekken Fight Lounge. 

Heat System, main story mode

Much has been said about the Heat System that TEKKEN 8 is implementing. Its effects are different for each character and is a mechanic that can help turn the tide of a fight. This is something I personally experienced as I got thrown cold into a series of matches. 

Our writer Gab, who participated in the game’s CNT, described it as “a way for the game to remain as action-packed and relatively fast-paced as possible, and truly favors players that simply can’t help themselves.” 

Murray gushed about the System saying it might even encourage players to try out characters they otherwise would not have just to see how the Heat System works on them. 

Visuals and presentation

Asked what about the game would entice non-fighting game players to try TEKKEN 8, Murray cheekily said, “It’s kind of a dumb answer but it’s graphics, right?” 

The game, after all, is built on Unreal Engine 5. And from what we’ve seen from the trailers so far, the graphics do look stunning. But he adds that after the visuals lure you in, you’ll find that there’s plenty that will keep you playing. 

“It’s all about the different characters, why they’re fighting… I think when they pick-up the story mode and find out, ‘Man, Kazuya’s so badass so I’m gonna play Kazuya’, everyone has that instinct, right?”, said Murray.

During a press conference, Murray also showcased a main story battle featuring Jin and Kazuya. The fight looked epic, sure. But what got plenty of reaction is the inclusion of Quick Time Events (QTEs) during the fights. This adds a new-ish wrinkle to what is already building up to be another excellent story mode. 

TEKKEN 8 will be released exclusively on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam on January 26, 2024. Pre-Orders for the Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Versions are now available on said platforms starting today!

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Nintendo might be working on an Ocarina of Time remake

It will reportedly launch in the second half of 2026.

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March 30, 2026

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What is the greatest game of all time? There’s a substantial chance that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be on the board. Even beside the Switch’s critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild duology, the Nintendo 64 title is one of the most quintessential games you can ever play. That said, it’s pretty dated. But maybe, not for long.

According to Nintendo insider NatetheHate, the company is working on a rerelease of Ocarina of Time. The title is scheduled for launch within the second half of 2026.

The wording is important here. “Rerelease” can mean anything. To be fair, NatetheHate, through his latest podcast, says that it’s likely we’ll get either a like-for-like remake or a full reimagining of the essential game. However, he does not discount the possibility that it’s just an HD remaster for the new consoles. Either way, Ocarina of Time is coming back this year.

If you can’t wait, the title isn’t exactly missing from the shelves. You can play the original from the list of available games through Nintendo Switch Online. The game also got a remaster for the 3DS.

There is no shortage of Zelda-related news lately. The franchise is getting a live-action adaptation next year, which now becomes a worthy follow-up to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming early next month.

SEE ALSO: The Legend of Zelda film gets its first official photos

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Life is Strange: Reunion now available on consoles and PC

Max and Chloe return for an emotional finale

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March 27, 2026

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Life is Strange: Reunion

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have officially launched Life is Strange: Reunion, the latest entry in the narrative adventure series. Developed by Deck Nine Games, the title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. A physical PlayStation 5 edition is also available across Southeast Asia.

The launch comes with an official trailer, marking the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved storylines.

A long-awaited reunion

Set 11 years after the original events, Life is Strange: Reunion brings back Max Caulfield and Chloe Price as they reunite to solve a new timeline-spanning mystery. This time, the stakes center on a devastating inferno threatening Caledon University–Max’s workplace as a photography teacher.

Returning from a trip, Max discovers the campus engulfed in flames, with lives lost across the university. She survives only by using her Rewind ability, a power that allows her to reverse time.

The situation takes an unexpected turn with Chloe’s sudden arrival–an outcome tied to the timeline-merging events of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Now dealing with fractured memories and an unstable sense of reality, Chloe once again finds herself relying on Max.

Dual perspectives, new gameplay dynamics

For the first time in the series, players can take control of both Max and Chloe, switching perspectives as the story unfolds.

Max’s Rewind power lets players revisit decisions, reshape conversations, and manipulate environments to solve complex, time-based puzzles. Meanwhile, Chloe brings her signature Backtalk ability, allowing her to push conversations in her favor and access situations Max cannot.

This dual-character approach expands both narrative depth and gameplay variety, offering different ways to uncover clues and influence outcomes.

A character-driven finale

Life is Strange: Reunion continues the series’ focus on grounded, emotional storytelling, with choices that carry meaningful consequences. The game builds toward a dramatic climax that aims to close out Max and Chloe’s journey.

As the final chapter in their story, Reunion positions itself as both a continuation and a conclusion–tying together years of narrative threads while delivering a new mystery shaped by time, loss, and choice.

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Gaming

Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical

Physical releases will have the same price.

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March 26, 2026

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The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.

Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.

The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.

The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.

To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.

Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States

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