Thank you for the tremendous response to the Season 3 Trailer revealed at the TEKKEN World Tour 2025 Global Finals. Since its release, we have received many messages of excitement and anticipation, but at the same time, we have also seen some interpretations and speculation that differ from the intentions of the development team.

Ahead of the scheduled March 17 [JST] release of Ver.3.00, we would like to provide accurate information about the update’s content and direction. Therefore, we are sharing the details once again.

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(1) Battle Balance Adjustments and Launch of the “TEKKEN Dev Feedback Portal (Beta)”

• Battle Balance Adjustments

This post provides additional clarification regarding the intent behind the Season 3 battle balance policy terms “Refined Balance” and “Back to Basics.”

These terms do not denote a return to earlier TEKKEN battle systems, nor do they imply drastic, comprehensive changes introduced in a single update. In line with the current TEKKEN 8 battle system, Season 3 focuses on refining areas where outcomes tended to be extreme, establishing conditions in which decision‑making and tactical judgment can operate more consistently.

“Refined Balance” and “Back to Basics” aren’t final goals—they’re simply principles that help guide the team in evaluating issues and deciding how to adjust the game moving forward.

“Refined Balance” reflects a phased and measured approach to adjustment—making incremental refinements rather than rebuilding systems in a single step—while maintaining the core mechanics of TEKKEN 8. “Back to Basics” establishes the criteria for assessment: whether exchanges of offense and defense function appropriately, whether defensive and evasive decisions are reflected accurately in outcomes, and whether individual errors produce disproportionately large consequences.

Accordingly, Season 3 does not guarantee dramatic, immediate shifts such as substantially strengthening defense or significantly weakening offense in ways that diverge from the intended gameplay philosophy of TEKKEN 8.

Below are examples of adjustments included in Ver.3.00, the starting point for Season 3 balance updates.

Example 1: Removal of Wall Splat Following Heat Smash Hit

Up to Season 2, Heat Smash hits yielded disproportionately high reward, often limiting the defending side’s viable responses. To mitigate these extreme cases, Season 3 removes the wall splat effect triggered by Heat Smash on hit.

Example 2: Revision of Character‑Specific Power‑Up States and Heat

Up to Season 2, if the activation of Heat also granted a character‑specific power‑up state (e.g., Claudio’s Starburst), the power‑up remained active even after Heat ended. This enabled players to continue applying strong pressure derived from the power‑up beyond the duration of Heat.
In Season 3, character‑specific power‑up states will now conclude at the same time Heat ends.

In addition to the system-level adjustments outlined above, Ver.3.00 will also include balance changes to individual character moves. The Ver.3.00 patch notes are scheduled for publication on Tuesday, March 17 [JST].

Balance adjustments will not end with Ver.3.00. Rather, updates will continue on an ongoing basis. Large‑scale, abrupt changes carry a risk of unintentional distortion of the battle environment; therefore, adjustments will be implemented gradually and continuously, in alignment with the defined policy direction, including in conjunction with the introduction of new characters.

• Establishment of the Official Development Feedback Portal

Ahead of the Ver.3.00 update, the “TEKKEN Dev Feedback Portal (Beta)”—comprising both a dedicated website and an official Discord server, separate from the Official TEKKEN Discord—is scheduled to open on Monday, March 16 [JST]. (The URL will be provided separately.)

The portal will function as a centralized platform for collecting information necessary for continuous improvements to the battle environment. Reports regarding battle issues or system defects may be submitted via the website form and may include text, video, and images. Detailed submissions will assist the development team in improving the accuracy of issue analysis.

After moderation, submitted reports will be shared within the official Discord server, where users may provide reactions and comments via threads. Channels dedicated to character‑specific balance discussions will also be available. Moderation will be conducted in accordance with established guidelines to ensure constructive discussions.

To ensure efficient information processing and review, we kindly request that future feedback be submitted primarily through this portal. This system is designed to ensure that the development team can reliably receive, organize, and assess submissions. We appreciate your cooperation and encourage active participation.

As this is a beta release, operational improvements and feature enhancements will continue following launch. We will work closely with the community to gather feedback and provide an improved gameplay experience.

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(2) Rank Match Reset and Matchmaking Logic Improvements

To ensure fairness and appropriate distribution of player skill within the new balance environment, we will implement a rank reset along with several system revisions.

• Rank Reset and Season Participation Rewards

At the start of Season 3, each character’s rank will be recalculated based on the player’s highest achieved rank during Season 2. This enables Season 3 to begin with rankings that more accurately reflect the revised battle environment. In addition, special titles will be awarded based on each player’s highest achieved Season 2 rank.

• Rank Point System Visualization and Adjustments

The post‑match display will now present a clearer breakdown of rank point gains and losses. Previously, only the total value was shown. By making bonuses and deductions more transparent, we aim to improve player understanding and perceived fairness.

Adjustments will also be made to promotion bonuses, win‑streak bonuses, additional rematch victory points, and demotion criteria, ensuring that player progress and challenges are evaluated appropriately.

• Matchmaking Logic Improvements

Matchmaking will be refined to reduce pairings between players of significantly differing skill levels. Ranking logic for secondary characters and rank‑based matchmaking restrictions will also be reviewed to improve fairness while maintaining reasonable matchmaking times.

Additional details will be available in the patch notes scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 17 [JST].

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We have compiled and shared an overview of the ongoing initiatives planned for Season 3, including the post‑Ver.3.00 battle balance policy and improvements to the ranked match environment. To continue delivering updates that meet your expectations, your candid feedback based on actual gameplay is essential.

The TEKKEN Dev Feedback Portal, scheduled to open on Monday, March 16 [JST], will serve as a place where the development team can reliably receive your input and apply it toward improving the game. Please report any battle or system issues via the web form, and use the official Discord server for opinions and discussions related to battle balance

We encourage your active participation and greatly appreciate your continued support of TEKKEN 8.