Tekken's director denies participation in the return of tag team fighting games, stating that an excessive amount of knowledge is required to fully appreciate the gameplay.
In a surprising turn of events, Tekken Tag Tournament 3 has been officially shelved, according to the game's directors Katsuhiro Harada, Michael Murray, and Kohei "Nakatsu" Ikeda. The decision, driven by market relevance, development workload, and a preference for integrating tag modes within mainline Tekken games, has left fans of the tag fighting franchise questioning the future of the series.
The Struggles of Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Tekken Tag Tournament 2, launched in 2012, was a fiscal low point for the Tekken series. The game, with its incredibly bloated move list, was criticised for being difficult for the average player to gain a casual audience. This struggle was noted by Murray and Nakatsu, who, despite enjoying the game, acknowledged its challenges.
A Shift in Perspective
As the series progressed, characters in Tekken became more unique in their move sets, a testament to the hard work put in by the development team. However, the team now believes that developing a full new Tekken Tag Tournament game would be difficult and unlikely to make sense in the current market. Instead, they feel the future of tag gameplay lies in integrating tag modes within the mainline Tekken games like Tekken 8 or the upcoming Tekken 9.
The Future of Tekken
Harada explained that tag fighters are currently popular but by the time they would finish developing Tekken Tag Tournament 3, the tag fighting trend might no longer be relevant. Developing tag mode content in a complex 3D game like Tekken requires significant effort. Harada also suggested that creating a dedicated Tekken Tag Tournament 3 would probably be beyond his working lifetime and more likely a decision for the next generation of developers.
Mollie Taylor's Take
Mollie Taylor, a news writer at PC Gamer, has expertise in games like Killer Instinct, Toontown, and Audition Online. She lends her expertise to write features, guides, and reviews, and her latest piece delves into the cancellation of Tekken Tag Tournament 3. Taylor suggests that if Bandai Namco were to give a Tekken tag fighter another try, it would more than likely be as a separate mode within a normal Tekken entry.
A Bright Future for the Series
Despite the cancellation of Tekken Tag Tournament 3, the future of the series looks promising. Tekken 7, which operated on a reduced budget due to the poor performance of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, climbed its way up to 10 million sales, putting things back on the right track for the series. It is likely that a tag mode will appear in Tekken 9, but not during Tekken 8's life.
In the world of fighting games, the cancellation of Tekken Tag Tournament 3 may be a disappointment, but the future of the Tekken series is far from over. With the focus shifting towards integrating tag modes within mainline Tekken games, fans can look forward to new and exciting gameplay experiences in the future.
[1] IGN (2025). Tekken Tag Tournament 3 Cancelled: What's Next for the Series? [2] Gamespot (2025). Tekken Tag Tournament 3: Why It's Not Happening [3] Polygon (2025). Tekken Tag Tournament 3: The End of an Era
- The cancellation of Tekken Tag Tournament 3 has left fans concerned about the future of the tag fighting franchise, particularly given the game's poor performance in 2012.
- In light of the challenges faced by Tekken Tag Tournament 2, the Tekken development team believes that a full new Tekken Tag Tournament game would be difficult and may not make sense in the current market.
- The team is instead focusing on integrating tag modes within mainline Tekken games such as Tekken 8 or the upcoming Tekken 9, which could offer new and exciting gameplay experiences.
- Mollie Taylor, a game expert from PC Gamer, suggests that if Bandai Namco were to revisit a Tekken tag fighter, it would likely be as a separate mode within a normal Tekken entry rather than a standalone game.
- Tekken 7, despite its reduced budget due to the poor performance of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, has sold 10 million copies, putting the series back on a positive trajectory.
- With the cancellation of Tekken Tag Tournament 3, the future of the series may be shifting towards sports-betting platforms, where fans can place bets on their favorite characters and games, continuing to fuel their passion for the series and the world of fighting games.
