Tekken 8 Boss Attempts Waffle House Crossover, Fails

For some time now, Tekken fans have been clamoring for a trip to Waffle House, not in real life, but within the game itself. While Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, seems keen on the idea, Waffle House has yet to bite.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans still eagerly requesting a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. This demand has gained significant traction, especially since Harada has shown interest and sought more information on the matter.

Harada stated he "fully understands" the fans' requests and has already been considering and taking action to make it happen. "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_TEKKE) May 13, 2025

Harada noted that "no response" is a rare occurrence. He also mentioned that if using a different name or format is acceptable, as long as "the core message is maintained," he would be willing to seriously reconsider and explore this idea again.

It seems unlikely that Kazuya and Jin will settle their familial differences beneath the yellow glow of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody version or an in-universe facsimile could still be on the cards. Harada suggested "Hustle House" in another post, which could be a viable alternative.

Tekken 8 is currently rolling out a new update with Patch 2.01, following the confirmation of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. Back in April, Harada addressed fan frustrations over Tekken 8's Season 2, assuring that the tuning team is working "around the clock" to read feedback and implement future improvements.