Tekken 8 fans are buzzing about the return of veteran fighter Anna Williams, who sports a fresh look that's stirring up quite the conversation. While many are embracing her new design, a vocal minority has drawn amusing comparisons to Santa Claus, thanks to her red coat and white fur trims.
When a fan expressed a desire for the "old Anna design" to return, Tekken's game director and chief producer, Katsuhiro Harada, didn't hold back in his response. He pointed out that while the vast majority of fans are welcoming the new design, there will always be detractors. Harada emphasized that past games with the old design are still available for those who prefer them, and he challenged the notion that one fan could speak for all Anna enthusiasts. He criticized the fan's approach as unconstructive and disrespectful to others eagerly anticipating her new look.
Harada's frustration didn't end there. When another commenter criticized the lack of older Tekken games being re-released with updated netcode and mocked Harada's response, the director sharply retorted, labeling the commenter's input as "pointless" and muting them.
Despite the controversy, Anna's new design has received largely positive feedback, with some fans like AngryBreadRevolution appreciating the edgier vibe. Others, such as troonpins and Cheap_Ad4756, have mixed feelings, appreciating parts of the outfit while noting the Santa-like elements and feeling that Anna looks younger and less like a "woman" now. spiralqq was more critical, describing the design as overdone and overly accessorized, echoing the Santa Claus comparison.
Amidst the design debate, Tekken 8 has been a commercial success, selling 3 million copies within a year of its release—a faster pace than Tekken 7, which took a decade to reach 12 million copies. In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game was praised for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, diverse offline modes, new characters, robust training tools, and enhanced online experience, earning a commendable 9/10 score.
