Tekken 8 Director Katsuhiro Harada was asked about Kirby's potential inclusion in Tekken 8. Learn more about Harada's response, collaboration history with Smash Bros Ultimate, game info, and more.
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Will There Be a Collaboration With Smash Bros Ultimate and Tekken 8?
Fans Hope To Play Kirby in Tekken 8
The vast tapestry of gaming universes has been woven together through countless collaborations, which have emerged as a pillar of the gaming industry. One example of this is the addition of Kazuya Kazama from Tekken as DLC content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate back in 2021. His reveal trailer caused some waves as he threw Ganondorf and several other characters down a cliff and into a raging lava flow as a reference to a famous scene in the Tekken series. Kazuya tried to claim Kirby as another victim, but when he tried to do so, the cute puffball just serenely floated away.
With the approaching release of Tekken 8, a curious fan dared to ask legendary game director Katsuhiro Harada a bold question: Could Kirby possibly make a cameo in Tekken 8? He admitted that working out such a deal with Nintendo would be challenging. Harada's candid reaction eloquently showed the hurdles that such a partnership would involve. In addition, he shared an interesting fact: Masahiro Sakurai was the mastermind behind that now-iconic Kazuya-Kirby sequence in the Smash Bros. trailer.
Kirby Will Not be in Tekken 8
It seems unlikely that Harada will get approval to integrate Kirby into the Tekken universe. The main problem is that Tekken 8 won't be available on the Nintendo Switch, most likely due to hardware limitations. Nintendo is infamously known for including cameo characters strictly in their own games, seldom allowing their IPs end up elsewhere. Kirby's entry into the Tekken arena is probably just a pipe dream. Even if it were to happen, Kirby's inclusion in Tekken would probably only exist if it were also coming to a Nintendo console.
Tekken 8 Release Date and Platforms
Bandai Namco Studios has already released an outstanding lineup of 24 fighters for the base game, with Kazuya leading the charge. Tekken 8 will arrive on January 26, 2024, and first launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. As the release date approaches, excitement is at an all-time high, and fans cannot wait for the next installment of this famous franchise.
