In the middle of the Tekken top 8 finals during Frosty Faustings 2023, Bandai Namco reveals a new trailer for the upcoming latest installment in the King of Iron Fist Tournament, Tekken 8, featuring the return of long-time roster veteran Nina Williams. The femme fatale who has been a mainstay since the first Tekken, Nina joins returning characters Paul Phoenix, Lars Alexandersson, Kazuya Mishima, Jin Kazama, Marshall Law, King, Jack-8, and coming back for the first time in 25 years, Jin's mother Jun Kazama.

She now utilizes dual pistols in many of her attacks and combo finishers. It's not the first time the Tekken series has utilized projectiles. Nina has always been a relatively close-range poke and whiff punish character, if the guns have half-screen range, this could have some great implications for her pressure.

In the 35 minute video, Tekken series creator and director Katsuhiro Harada and series game designer Michael Murray revealed some of Tekken 8's new mechanics, as well as changes to the returning features. The rage system from Tekken 8 returns, with some changes to how it functions. It's now a common command this time around. However, once used, it may deal a great load of damage, but exhausts the remainder of the state. 

New to Tekken 8 is the "Heat System", which will allow more aggressive tactics. A "Heat Burst" will give your attacks advantage on block and is easier to execute, using a single button. "Heat Engagers", when activated, grants the user two stocks of "8 Energy". This "8 Energy" can either be spent to execute a Heat Dash, which spends one bar. Heat Smashes spend all your bar while striking your opponent very hard. Tekken 8 looks to reward very pressuring offensive play to balance out many of its defensive mechanics. 

Tekken 8 is currently in development for the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam (PC). No release date is set.