Tekken 8 Director Slams Fan Over Anna Williams' New Look: 'Unconstructive and Pointless'

Veteran Tekken 8 character Anna Williams is making a comeback, sporting a new look that has generally been well-received by fans. However, some have voiced concerns, with a few even drawing humorous comparisons to Santa Claus due to her outfit's design.

In response to a fan's request to revert to Anna's old design, Tekken game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada responded firmly. "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you," he stated, highlighting that past works featuring the older design are still accessible. Harada pointed out that while 98% of fans are embracing the new look, there will always be detractors. He criticized the approach of some fans who claim to speak for all Anna supporters, calling their arguments unconstructive and disrespectful to others who are excited about the redesign.

Harada's frustration was further evident when he sharply rebuked another commenter who criticized the lack of older Tekken games with modern netcode on current systems, calling the comment pointless and muting the user.

Despite the controversy, many fans have expressed positive sentiments about Anna's new design. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution appreciated the edgier and more vengeful look, although they noted some reservations about the coat resembling Christmas attire. Troonpins liked most elements of the outfit but was not a fan of the white feathers, which they felt contributed to the Santa Claus vibe. Cheap_Ad4756 observed that Anna appears younger and less like a "woman" in the new design, missing the previous dominatrix vibe. Spiralqq criticized the overall design as overdone and lacking focus, suggesting it would be better without the coat or at least without the Santa-like elements.

The discussion about Anna's new outfit has been active on platforms like Reddit, where fans continue to share their thoughts and preferences.

Tekken 8 has been a commercial success, selling 3 million copies within a year of its release, outpacing Tekken 7, which took a decade to reach 12 million copies worldwide. In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game was praised for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, engaging offline modes, new characters, robust training tools, and enhanced online experience, earning a score of 9/10. The review commended Tekken 8 for honoring its legacy while pushing the franchise forward, making it a standout entry in the series.