Tekken 8 Boss Attempts Waffle House Crossover, Fails

For some time now, Tekken enthusiasts have been vocal about their desire for a Waffle House stage in the game. While this wish might seem whimsical, it has captured the attention of Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, who has expressed a keen interest in exploring this idea further.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans who continue to push for the inclusion of a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. The demand has grown significantly, fueled in part by Harada's own curiosity and willingness to delve into the concept.

Harada has acknowledged the fans' requests, stating that he "fully understands" their enthusiasm. He's not only been contemplating this idea but has also taken proactive steps to bring it to fruition.

"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," Harada shared on X/Twitter. "However, and this is purely my own speculation, I suspect that the lack of response may be due to the fact that the project I'm known for revolves around 'fighting-themed video games.'"

To be honest, within the bounds of what I can say, I fully understand your (you guys) request—that's precisely why I had considered taking on this challenge. In fact, I had already been thinking about it quite a while ago.

Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make… https://t.co/Sa5oSpk2IZ

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) May 13, 2025

Harada pointed out that receiving "no response" is a rare occurrence. He also mentioned that if using a different name or format while preserving the "core message" is acceptable, he would be open to revisiting and exploring the idea again.

It appears unlikely that fans will see Kazuya and Jin battling it out under the iconic yellow glow of a Waffle House sign in the near future. However, a parody or an in-game equivalent might still be possible. Harada floated the idea of "Hustle House" in a subsequent post, which could serve as a creative workaround.

Meanwhile, Tekken 8 is rolling out its latest update with Patch 2.01, following the announcement of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. In response to fan feedback on Tekken 8's Season 2 back in April, Harada reassured the community that the tuning team is diligently working "around the clock" to incorporate player suggestions and enhance the game further.