Jun Kazama in Tekken 8 is a playable character. Tekken Series Director Katsuhiro Harada confirmed the fact during a panel following the Tekken World Tour 2022 North America Regional Finals. Jun has been missing and presumed dead since her first appearance in Tekken 2. She showed up in other Tekken games, but only as a flashback or cameo. She was last playable in 2012’s Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and 2013’s Tekken Revolution, which are not considered “canon.” Harada also confirmed that Jun never actually died, and only went missing. Exactly why she was gone all that time might be explained as part of Tekken 8‘s story.
The panel also saw Harada and Tekken Series Producer Michael Murray show off some early concept art of Jun Kazama in Tekken 8. Jun’s design comes from artist Mari Shimazaki, who designed the main cast of Bayonetta, Josie Rizal and Kazumi Mishima from Tekken 7, and the cast of anime series Luck & Logic.
2. Jun's early concept art shown, but Jun's design itself, was done by Mari Shimazaki! pic.twitter.com/GJxH6whNgc
— Bandai Namco Esports (@BNEesports) December 12, 2022
Besides the playability of Jun Kazama in Tekken 8, Harada and Murray also emphasized some other key points from the recent trailer aired at the 2022 Game Awards. Factors like environmental destruction, Rage Art super moves, and the three-dimensional “side-stepping” mechanics will continue to be important in the new game. The newer “Heat System” will be activated by executing certain moves, but also by other factors that will be revealed at a later date. The Heat System is designed to encourage “aggressive” play by enhancing characters’ abilities and moves.
In a follow-up Tweet, Harada also said that Tekken 7 had passed the 10 million sales milestone, as well as surpassing over 54 million sales over the series’ lifetime. He thanked fans for their support over the years.
"TEKKEN7" had achieved Over 10 million sales.
and Recorded Over 54 million copies sales for the series.
Thank you for your continued support!「鉄拳７」の実販売数が1000万本を突破しました(シリーズ累計は5400万本超)、皆様に感謝いたします.#TEKKEN #TEKKEN7 #鉄拳 pic.twitter.com/qxJlHl0Uk0
— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) December 11, 2022
Tekken 8 will launch on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. It does not yet have a release date.
