Tekken 8 Adding Microtransactions With New Shop Feature

gamerant.com:

Tekken 8 might be adding microtransactions through its new Tekken Shop, and fans are already divided. The latest Tekken game launched back in January to rave reviews, with many praising Tekken 8 for its plot, “aggressive” gameplay, and improved visual presentation. Tekken 8 has already surpassed publisher Bandai Namco’s sales expectations mere weeks after release, and this success will likely continue as the game’s post-launch DLC wave is released — starting with the fan favorite Capoeira expert Eddy Gordo.

However, it seems that Tekken 8 will continue a controversial trend in the gaming industry: microtransactions. Players can purchase additional items with real-life currency in countless video games, but microtransactions have come under intense scrutiny when used in full-price, triple-A fighting game releases. For example, Street Fighter 6 came under fire over the usually high cost of its alternate DLC character skins. Likewise, Mortal Kombat 1 drew considerable backlash for charging players to unlock special Fatalities like the Halloween-themed kill animation released last October.

Tekken 8 recently indicated that it will be adding its own microtransactions through its upcoming Tekken Shop, as revealed in an in-game message players received when logging in earlier this week. Fans initially theorized that this new shop will useTekken 8’s in-game Fight Money currency for its purchases, but the announcement message seemingly disproves this by stating that the game’s ESRB rating has been updated to mention “In-Game Purchases,” all but confirming that real-world money will be involved.

The news of Tekken 8’s possible microtransaction store has already garnered a mixed response online. While some are decrying the implication of microtransactions as a universally negative thing, others feel that Tekken 8 deserves the benefit of the doubt given how much content is already in the base game. These fans see no issue with Tekken 8 selling legacy skins of existing characters