Tekken 7 Info Compilation - Everything You Need to Know

Since pummelling its way onto the pixelated scene back in ’94, the Tekken series has cemented its status as a colossus of the industry’s fighting game genre, and that legacy will soon continue through the release of Tekken 7.

Truth be told, Bandai Namco’s brawler has been a long time coming, given it was first introduced via a limited arcade release in 2015. That seeded the creation of Fated Retribution, which launched for those in Japan just last year. It’s by no means the first fighting game to make its debut via arcade cabinets before eventually being ported to consoles — and is unlikely to be the last — but there’s a crackle of excitement swirling around Tekken 7. And it’s small wonder why.

So, you’re ready to go a round or two with Tekken 7‘s musclebound character roster? Not so fast! In anticipation of its launch on June 2, we’ve scoured the four corners of the internet — and the PSLS archives — to compile all the necessary information you could ever need pertaining to Bandai Namco’s long-anticipated brawler.

It’s been a long time coming, but Tekken 7 is expected to make a beeline for PS4, Xbox One and PC on Friday, June 2. But tell us, do you plan on scooping up Bandai Namco’s super-stylish brawler on day one? Do let us know.

Essential Reading:

Tekken 7 info dump

Tekken 7 - EYNTK

Curious to know more about Bandai Namco's imminent brawler? We've got you covered...
What is Tekken 7?

It's the ninth instalment in Bandai Namco's genre-defining series, and the first to be built using Unreal Engine. Tekken 7 initially rolled out via select arcades two years ago, leading to the launch of Fated Retribution.

It's now teetering on the verge of its international launch, and June 2nd is the date for your diaries. Oh, and did we mention that Tekken 7 is the first game in the series to release a PC version? Exciting times indeed.

"Settle old scores and wrestle for control of a global empire with a roster of over 30 playable characters. Choose from an impressive roster of fan-favourites including King and Nina Williams, and all-new fighters such as Lucky Chloe, Shaheen and the Street Fighter series’ Akuma."
What's the Story?

The fundamental story of Tekken 7 goes a little something like this: the feud between Heihachi Mishima, Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama has reached boiling point (again!) and Bandai is step to deliver the final chapter in the family's long, bloody saga.

Mind you, if you're growing tired of the Mishima clan and there tendency to beat seven shades of shit out of one another, don't worry; Tekken 7's story mode also includes side chapters dedicated to non-Mishima brawlers.

Per Bandai:

"Raise your fists and get ready for the ultimate battle on the next generation of home consoles. Powered by the Unreal Engine 4, the storied fighting franchise returns for another round in TEKKEN 7. With the faithful 3D battle system and gameplay intact, TEKKEN 7 takes the franchise to the next level with photo-realistic graphics and new and innovative features and fighting mechanics. TEKKEN 7 resurrects the attitude, competitiveness, and showmanship rooted in its arcade DNA to provide the ultimate fighting game experience."
A Much Darker Story at That

In fact, Harada-san has even gone so far as to say that the story of Tekken 7 will be much, much darker than its forebears, and it'll seemingly close the book on the Mishima saga.
Fated Retribution

As we alluded to before, Bandai Namco initially rolled out an arcade-friendly cut of Tekken 7 in 2015, before building on those foundations to create Fated Retribution. By the same token, the console version of the game will be an updated version of FR.
Opening Cinematic

Featuring Heihachi and Kazuya duking it out on the fringe of an active volcano (sound familiar?) the suitably epic opening cinematic for Tekken 7 can be viewed here.
Rage-Quitters Will Be Punished

Come June 2nd, expect Tekken 7 to clamp down on rage-quitters, with Harada-san noting that the brawler will impose a series of penalties for those players who pull the plug at the first sign of defeat.

"You can’t keep someone from physically pulling out the LAN cable, so the only thing you can do is make them not want to do that by having some kind of penalties. Although we can’t really go into that at the moment, we do have penalties planned for that. We don’t want to go into a lot of detail right now because the hackers and such will already start about thinking of ways to circumvent that. But we do have plans to implement some penalties."
Character Roster

Tekken 7 touts a character roster of over 30 playable fighters, and it's fair to say that Eliza and the Street Fighter guest character Akuma are two of the most buzz-worthy of the bunch.

The full list of fighters can be found here.
Extensive DLC Plans
Expect Bandai Namco's DLC plan for Tekken 7 to continue through until spring 2018. Here's a general overview of the post-launch content cramming up the pipeline:
- First Batch (Summer 2017)
  Brand-new game mode
  More than 50 new costumes
- Second Batch (Winter 2017)
  One exclusive playable guest character from another video game license
  A special stage and special costumes for the guest character
- Third Batch (Spring 2018)
  One exclusive playable guest character from another video game license
  A special stage and special costumes for the guest character
Per Bandai:

"During the coming year, all players from all platforms will also enjoy free character panels they will be able to use to customize their favorite character’s image displayed during the loading screen. Through a partnership with various worldwide artists, each player will have their own way to defy their friends and rivals! Stay tuned for more info!"
Key Features Outlined

So, you're wanting to get up to speed with Tekken 7 in anticipation of its launch on June 2nd? Here's a recap of the game's main features:

Unreal Engine 4 – Powered by Unreal Engine 4, TEKKEN 7 is the best looking TEKKEN game ever through near photo-realistic graphics and the addition of stunning fighting effects.

Seamless Story Experience – Powerful cinematic story sequences blending flawlessly into fierce battles that unveils the thrilling storyline of the Mishima family in a very innovative way.

Character Roster – A solid roster of over 30 characters including brand new fighters with one of the world’s biggest move-set list in a fighting game that allows for a complete freedom of your fighting style. Find your favourite deadly techniques, martial arts moves and combos to win the fight!

Street Fighter Crossover – Street Fighter’s Akuma flawlessly transitions into the 3D space and joins the fray in an epic franchise mash-up complete with all his shoto-style moves and fireballs.

All-New Battle Mechanics and Moves – Classic 1vs1 battles return along with new moves and battle mechanics like “Rage Arts”, “Power Crushes” and “Rage Drives” that make gameplay more accessible for players of all skill levels. Beating your friends in TEKKEN 7 will be based on either focused training or just pure fun.

The Final Chapter in the Gruelling Mishima Saga – TEKKEN 7 represents the final chapter of the 20-year-long Mishima feud. Unveil the monumental ending to the emotionally charged family warfare between members of the Mishima clan as they struggle to settle old scores and battle for control of a global empire, putting the balance of the world in peril…
Rage is Art

In detailing the title's Rage mode attacks, Tekken 7 director and producer Katsuhiro Harada noted that "some Rage Drives can be more defensive than others. We’ve also made them harder to guess as they can be used in high, mid, and low ranges."

Rage Art, meanwhile, is a finishing move designed to knock your foe down or, if their health is low enough, knock them out.

Harada continued:

"You can deliver massive damage, but only in proportion to how low your health is. So it can be a life-saver, but you really have to think about when you should use it.”
The Arenas

From the Mishima Dojo to Brimstone & Fire to the The King of Iron Fist Tournament stage, Tekken 7's features a vast collection of arenas in which you'll be able to beat your opponents to a pulp — or vice versa. Check out the full list here.
Delayed in the Name of Creating a Complete Product

Perhaps wary or repeating Street Fighter V's mistakes, Bandai Namco carved out extra development time for Tekken 7 in order to engineer a complete product, with Harada-san noting that:

"We were trying to do everything we could to make that [early 2017] date happen… maybe to scale down on the content in order to make the master release, but in the end we came to the decision that [after] seeing releases from other companies, as well as some of the past of our own, where maybe things weren’t working 100% at launch, or maybe it was missing some content, that’s the kind of thing we wanted to avoid with Tekken 7, so we made a very difficult decision of moving it to June to include all of the original content that we’d originally planned."
Pre-Order to Gain Access to Eliza

First introduced to the series via Tekken Revolution, the undead vampire known as Eliza is a pre-order perk for Bandai Namco's Tekken 7, meaning there's still time to lay your money on the line and gain access to Eliza from the get-go.
A Hefty File Size

Looking to purchase Tekken 7 on day one? Prepare to set aside at least 42GB of hard drive space. Those in Europe will need to reserve a total of 45GB, and we understand the slight disparity can be attributed to the game's localization process.
Eddy Gordo

Seeking retribution for the death of his Capoeira master, Eddy Gordo also has a part to play in Tekken 7.

"Eddy Gordo’s connection to the Mishima Zaibatsu began when he pleaded with Jin Kazama to help treat the serious illness afflicting his Capoeira master. In return for the treatment, Eddy would wield his deadly skills at Jin’s command. Unfortunately for Eddy, not even the technology of the Mishima Zaibatsu could save Eddy’s master and he soon swore to take vengeance against the Mishima Zaibatsu led by Kazuya Mishima."
Season Pass

Included in the $84.99 USD Deluxe Edition of Tekken 7, the game's Season Pass will grant access to three content packs "aimed to extend the Tekken 7 experience and will include new playable characters, new stages, a new game mode, costume packs, and a bonus 35-piece Metallic Costume Pack.” Prices weren’t given, but you’ll be able to buy each DLC pack separately.

In terms of exclusives, the PS4 version will include legacy costumes from Tekken 4 and Tekken 2 for King, Xiaoyu, and Jin, plus a Jukebox Mode where you can listen to classic Tekken tracks and create playlists while you play. Pretty neat, right?
PSLS Talks to Katsuhiro Harada

Late last year, PSLS caught up with series mainstay Katsuhiro Harada to discuss the upcoming console port of Tekken 7 and DLC.
Harada Quick to Cool Talk of a First-Person VR Build

Despite rumors to the contrary, Tekken 7's VR mode won't be built around a first-person perspective. Harda's reasoning is fairly straightforward, too, after the series stalwart stressed that the viewpoint would prove to be too intense.

"If you could imagine that you have some kind of a martial artist or pro boxer or something come and do shadowboxing right in front of your face, you can then probably begin to see how that’s not a very entertaining or enjoyable experience. Added to that, you’d be knocked into the air for, like, an aerial juggle or whatever – it’s really jarring and not very fun."
PlayStation VR Support

So what exactly can we expect from Tekken 7 in VR? Well, according to Harada-san, it'll be more tailored to the "character elements"

"We ended up focusing more on the character elements of it, where you can customize your character and look at it from various angles, or with a fight against a CPU opponent slow down the match, and change the camera angles so you can see the game like you’ve never seen it before. These are the kind of things that make Tekken a more enjoyable experience in VR."
Get the Inside Scoop on Tournament Mode

When asked to describe the game's new Tournament Mode, Tekken 7 producer Katsuhiro Harada outlined the mode as so:

"There are a lot of people who don’t want to play in online matches because they hate losing. But they still have a competitive spirit, don’t they? If they want to play now their only options are ranked matches or pairing off and playing with friends. If they decide that they do want to have a goal in the game then a tournament, playing with people from all over the globe in a while championship for example, would be pretty difficult.

"But if they had the chance to play in an 8-person tournament, well then they’d probably be playing all the time, wouldn’t they? If they did that, they could get a taste of coming out in the top spot, plus they could actually get a small reward in the game. They could unlock costumes or something like that. Having a small goal you’re working on each day, learning how to play the game, and not just for ranked matches. This is our concept here for this style of gaming, with this type of mini tournament."
Stable Performance on PS4

The tech wizards over at Digital Foundry have ruled that Tekken 7 performs smoothly on PS4, clocking in at 900p/60fps.

That's a slight dip from Katsuhiro Harada's original target of 1080p/6ofps.
Story Trailer

The Mishima Family blood feud rages on in the official story trailer for Tekken 7.
Extended Gameplay

Eager to take a peek at Tekken 7 in action? Look no further than this extended, 30-minute gameplay demo of Bandai's sequel running on PlayStation 4.
Trophy List

Comprised of 43 digital accolades in total, the official Tekken 7 Trophy list can be found right here.
Digital Delexue Edition

Priced at $84.99, the Digital Deluxe Edition of Tekken 7 comes packing the Season Pass, an official theme, access to Eliza, as well as the game itself.
ESRB Rating

It's official: Tekken 7 has been rated T for Teen, and ESRB description is as follows.

"This is a fighting game in which players engage in one-on-one combat with a large cast of human, animal, and supernatural characters. Players use martial-arts punches, kicks, and throws to drain opponents' life meters. Some characters can also use machine guns or throw fireballs at opponents. Cutscenes depict further instances of violence: a character throwing another person off a cliff into lava; a soldier shooting a character in the arm. Small blood splashes occasionally appear on the camera during cutscenes; one sequence depicts splashes of blood on a character's nose after being struck. The game contains includes some suggestive material: female characters wearing outfits that reveal deep cleavage (the camera occasionally zooms in on their chests); a male character peeking at a woman as she showers (no nudity is depicted); a man falling face first into a woman's chest. One cutscene involves pizza, laxatives, gurgling noises, and flatulence as two characters scramble to reach a bathroom. The words “a*s” and “bastard” appear in the dialogue."
Hands-On Preview

Our fearless leader Alex Co grappled with an early build of Tekken 7 back in March, and walked away overly impressed.

Said he:

"During my hands-on time, which was played on a standard PS4 (which I assume were debug units), it’s hard not to notice just how fantastic it looks, and how fluid the gameplay is. It’s so easy to play a Tekken game and just forget how seamless the controls are and what’s happening on-screen that we sometimes take it for granted. In Tekken 7, things are taken up a notch thanks to the Unreal Engine 4. Characters and stages look fantastic as before, but there’s a certain 'grounded' feel to it."