Kuma's new design in Tekken 8 is making fans cry

Earlier this week, we received a brand-new trailer for Tekken 8, showcasing a range of previously unannounced characters such as Yoshimitsu, Dragunov, Shaheen, and several others. We also got a glimpse of the popular character Kuma, who is sporting a different outfit compared to his last appearance in Tekken 7. At first glance, Kuma seems to be wearing a cute little vest and headband, but the outfit may look somewhat familiar to you as a longtime fan of the series.

For context: Kuma is an adorable grizzly bear that series icon Heihachi Mishima found as a cub and raised to be a fighter, making him extremely loyal. Those who have played Tekken 7 know that Heihachi is killed by his son Kazuya after being thrown into a volcano, and Tekken 8 makes a big deal out of him being permanently dead. Kuma is a character who does not accept this outcome and is dedicated to fighting until he returns.

Kuma's new outfit is evidence of this dedication, as he appears to be wearing a vest made from Heihachi's old outfit in Tekken 7. But that's not all, he also wears Heihachi's red belt as a headband and even wraps his arms with white bandages, just like his now deceased master. It also seems that Kuma's moveset has been completely revamped. Instead of the classic bear style we know and love, he will have a moveset that imitates Heihachi to showcase how devoted he is to his training.

It is a clever move by the developers to integrate Heihachi's playstyle into Tekken 8 without having to introduce new characters. However, it pains us in our hearts to know that Kuma has given everything to make his deceased master proud and will continue to fight until he returns, even if he is "the last one standing." Why did you have to make the silly bear character so sad, Harada?

Fortunately, the latest trailer also gave us a reason to rejoice as an official release date for Tekken 8 was announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live, along with the unveiling of the game's single-player mode. It will still be some time before we can get our hands on it, but we now know that Tekken 8 will be released on January 26, 2024.