Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that it will be adding a ‘Tekken Shop’ to Tekken 8 in the game’s next title update which has only divided the community. The ESRB rating mentions “in-game purchases” which has led many to believe that it will contain microtransactions and potentially lock content behind paywalls at high prices – something we’ve already seen in Mortal Kombat 1.
While this announcement was technically made last week Friday by Bandai Namco, the news only really started gaining traction yesterday and over the weekend with the community who have been weighing the pros and cons of an in-game shop. Some argue that since Tekken 8 already launched with a wealth of content that more than justified its steep $70 price tag, microtransactions are something that the Tekken team at Bandai Namco have earned.
Others added that it will likely feature cosmetics like legacy skins, new outfits and inconsequential customisation items, further bolstering seasonal content offerings with individual items that players can choose to purchase instead of buying full season passes. When you look at it from that perspective, it seems harmless enough and something that I’m sure Bandai Namco will do its best to sidestep if it doesn’t want a cloud of controversy to halt the game’s goodwill.
However, there’s also the possibility that the Tekken Shop will take the wrong notes from Mortal Kombat 1 and lock some of its more desirable content behind paywalls – a move that won’t go down well with the community. As it stands, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Games are facing heaps of backlash for its stingy microtransactions. Hopefully Tekken 8 doesn’t go down that same path.
In other news, Tekken 8 will officially make its debut at Evo 2024 alongside Mortal Kombat 1 and the return of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. Read the full Evo lineup right here.
Tekken 8 is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Source: Fandom Wire
