Tekken 8 Boss Attempts Waffle House Crossover, Fails

For some time now, Tekken fans have been eagerly requesting a trip to Waffle House, but not in the real world. Instead, they want to see it as a stage in Tekken 8. Although the game's director, Katsuhiro Harada, has shown interest and even engaged in discussions about it, Waffle House has yet to bite.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans who continue to push for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. The demand has gained significant traction, and Harada has acknowledged the fans' enthusiasm and his own curiosity about the concept.

Harada stated that he "fully understands" the fans' requests and has already taken steps to explore the possibility. "Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," he 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.'"

"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," said Harada 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 is acceptable, as long as "the core message is maintained," he would be willing to seriously reconsider and explore this idea further.

It appears that Kazuya and Jin won't be battling it out under the iconic yellow light of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody version or an in-universe facsimile could 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. In April, Harada addressed fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, assuring that the tuning team is working "around the clock" to incorporate feedback and improve the game.