Bob is back in Tekken 8, bringing his unusual combination of size, speed, and power to the game’s aggressive combat system.

The Season 3 character keeps the identity that made him a fan favorite. However, the development team has also given him new tools that fit Tekken 8‘s Heat system and faster pace.

The result is a Bob that should feel familiar to longtime players while giving newcomers plenty of reasons to pick him up.

• “We’ve carefully maintained Bob’s symbolic ‘Speed. Weight. Power.’ battle style, as well as his character—one that combines both a sense of justice and humor.”

The team also expanded his role outside the ring. Bob is now an investigator for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, adding a stronger sense of justice to his story.

This preview is based on a pre-release build of Tekken 8 that remains under development. Features and gameplay details may change before release.

Bob keeps his signature style

Bob’s defining contradiction remains at the heart of his design. He’s a large fighter who can move with surprising speed.

The development team says this remains central to his identity.

“Speed and Weight’ is one of the concepts that symbolizes Bob. We believe that Bob’s unique appeal lies in his ability to move nimbly in a way that seems to contradict the weight and power of his large frame.”

That philosophy carries into Tekken 8. Bob combines powerful attacks with mobility and long-reaching pokes. He can also use Spinner Ball to enter his stance and build pressure.

The team specifically reworked Spinner Ball for the new game.

• “Spinner Ball’ has been revamped to be more easily incorporated into both neutral play and combos, with new moves and Heat synergies added as well.”

That makes Bob more than a collection of familiar moves. His classic tools now have to work within Tekken 8‘s more aggressive battle system.

The team says it wanted returning players to recognize him while still giving them new things to discover.

• “While preserving Bob’s trademark character from previous titles, we’ve reviewed the performance and behavior of his existing moves so that players can enjoy more dynamic and aggressive battles in TEKKEN 8.”

The same philosophy applies to his new moves. “Onigiri Bomber,” for example, brings his new food-business identity into his moveset.

Heat adds more depth

Bob’s biggest gameplay evolution comes from the Heat system.

The development team designed Heat to address one of Bob’s weaknesses while making his existing strengths more threatening.

“The Heat system is designed to compensate for Bob’s weakness in his Punishment while further enhancing his forte in grounded combat and offense.”

Bob can build new offensive sequences from Spinner Ball and access additional follow-ups while in Heat.

His Heat Smash also adds a layer of precision. Players can land Perfect frame inputs that increase its damage and change its animation and voice lines.

The team wanted that precision to feel rewarding to both players and spectators.

• “When the Perfect frame input succeeds, his voice lines and Animation change as well, so that not only the player but also spectators can tell that it ‘succeeded’—we wanted to make Bob a character that everyone can get excited about together.”

The approach gives Bob a higher skill ceiling without making him inaccessible.

That balance seems intentional. The development team describes Bob as an all-rounder who can appeal to both new and experienced players.

• “He’s a character who reveals greater depth the more you play him, so please give him a try!”

That may be Bob’s biggest strength in Tekken 8. You can pick him up and immediately access his powerful attacks. You can also spend more time learning his movement, stance options, and precise inputs.

A familiar Bob with a new story

Bob’s gameplay isn’t the only thing that evolved.

His new role as an investigator builds on the sense of justice that has always been part of his character. His story now also includes his success as a hamburger-chain owner and his work running a food bank.

The development team wanted to explore that side of him more deeply.

• “While cherishing Bob’s signature sense of humor, in this title we wanted to portray more deeply the strong sense of justice he has always possessed.”

That identity also shows up in his new costume. His training outfit features the Bob’s Onigiri logo, turning his business into part of his visual identity. The development team describes it as a playful bit of self-promotion.

Even his attacks incorporate the theme. Perfect inputs for moves such as Prix Fixe Justice Beat and Perfect Body can trigger hamburger and onigiri-inspired effects.

But the development team doesn’t want Bob’s new identity to overshadow what made him work in the first place.

• “While retaining Bob’s mobility and power that made Bob who he was up through TEKKEN 7, he has evolved into a character who can more easily continue his offense thanks to new moves and the ‘Heat’ system.”

That makes Bob’s return feel less like a simple nostalgia trip.

He is still the large, surprisingly nimble fighter built around Speed. Weight. Power. But Tekken 8 gives him more ways to express those traits.

And according to the development team, that’s exactly what they wanted.

“Bob is what you might call a ‘standard, top-of-the-class type.’ Since he has the moves necessary for TEKKEN’s fundamental ‘rock-paper-scissors’ dynamic all present at a high level, he’s a character we highly recommend even for beginners.”

For returning players, that means there’s a familiar Bob waiting to be rediscovered. For newcomers, there’s a straightforward all-rounder with plenty of room to grow.

We’re nearing the dreaded date that all game publishers are rightfully fearing: the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. Since we’re so near, it’s only right that Rockstar Games starts teasing their upcoming game, which is officially happening later this month via a special presentation on Netflix. However, ahead of that highly anticipated date, a leaker has apparently leaked the footage in protest of the game’s lack of a physical release.

Let’s parse that out piecemeal. First up, Rockstar Games is scheduled to release an extended first look at Grand Theft Auto VI through Netflix on August 27. If you don’t have the platform, the publisher will release the same footage on more public outlets six hours later. The footage will represent our biggest peek at the game after months of relative silence.

Secondly, a leaker has released the said footage ahead of time. Now, this isn’t the first time that a major leak spoiled details about the game. Previously, a leak was the first to reveal that the sixth entry in the series is getting two playable protagonists.

Third, the why: The leaker says that they will continue to reveal more information about the game to protest the game’s lack of a physical release. Like new PlayStation games next year, Rockstar Games does not plan to release a disc version of the game.

The footage itself

And, finally, the leak itself. Rockstar Games is currently issuing DMCA notices against anyone posting the leaked footage. It lends credence to the authenticity of the footage but also ensures that we can’t post the leaks themselves.

If anything, there are two reportedly legitimate clips, while others were seemingly generated with AI. The first clip has Jason, one of the two protagonists, playing basketball in his hideout, which gives him a stat boost. The clip confirms the return of minigames you can play in between missions.

The second clip sees Jason fight with a truck driver after a traffic incident. He kills the driver with a wrench, which earns him a two-star wanted level and summons a police chase as the series often does.

There’s not much to glean from these two short clips. In fact, it’s hard to say whether this footage represents the final release or something left over from previous leaks. Thankfully, Rockstar Games is releasing the official extended look soon on August 27.

After that, Grand Theft Auto VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

PlayStation is expanding its audio lineup with the Pulse Elevate wireless speakers, its first wireless speakers developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The speakers will launch in Southeast Asia starting November 12, 2026, with pre-orders opening September 2.

The Pulse Elevate speakers are designed for desktop gaming on PS5, PC, and Mac, while also supporting portable use with the PlayStation Portal remote player and smartphones. They combine planar magnetic drivers, built-in woofers, and PlayStation Link wireless connectivity for low-latency, lossless audio.

Each speaker uses a studio-inspired planar magnetic driver to deliver sound across the audible spectrum. Built-in woofers add richer bass, while the speakers can enhance positional audio in PS5 games that support Tempest 3D AudioTech.

The right speaker also has a built-in microphone with AI-enhanced noise rejection. This allows users to handle voice chat without wearing a headset while helping filter out unwanted background noise.

Designed for gaming and beyond

Pulse Elevate uses PlayStation Link for ultra-low-latency wireless audio with compatible devices, including the PS5, PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portal. The speakers also support Bluetooth, allowing users to listen to audio from a Bluetooth device while using PlayStation Link for another connected device.

A PlayStation Link USB adapter is included and works with USB-C ports. The speakers also feature built-in rechargeable batteries, letting users take them on the go. Charging docks are included for returning to a desktop setup.

Users can adjust the speakers’ volume directly and position them horizontally or vertically. PS5 and PC users can also customize EQ, sidetone, volume, and microphone mute settings through system menus.

Pulse Elevate will be available in Midnight Black and White.

Price and availability

Pulse Elevate wireless speakers will launch starting November 12, 2026. Pre-orders begin September 2 at local retailers. Availability may vary by market and retailer.

The recommended retail prices are:

• Singapore: SGD 319
• Malaysia: MYR 1,099
• Thailand: THB 8,499
• Philippines: PHP 14,709
• Vietnam: VND 6,999,000

The Pulse Elevate marks Sony Interactive Entertainment’s first entry into wireless speakers, extending the PlayStation audio ecosystem beyond the Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore earbuds.