![TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.01: Re-balance to put the game back on track [full Patch Notes] cover image](https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TEKKEN8-Patch201-thumbnail-968x544.jpg)
The main focus of these adjustments is to fix the current attack-heavy nature of TEKKEN 8. The update continues the emergency patch to “tackle longer-term issues.”
One thing the community appreciates about the season two mess in TEKKEN 8 is that developers respond, apologize for their mistakes, and take steps to fix them. Patch 2.01 addresses some of the issues actively discussed by players, including high damage for air combos and unbalanced Heat Burst.
According to the official explanation of this update, new changes required more time to evaluate by the development team, so they come much later than the Emergency Patch fixes.
Alongside TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.01, Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed a roadmap for further development. Here's a full breakdown!
Fixes to balance broken moves and support the defensive style
After much public backlash, here are the major fixes coming with TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.01:
- Balance broken moves: Without specifying what exact moves receive fixes, the reveal of TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.01 explains the intention to nerf them. The risk of using high-reward moves should be appropriate and matches should not be as one-sided.
- Reduce air combo damage: TEKKEN is a lot about landing air combos — even the story in Arcade Quest says so. However, Season 2 made damage from these combos frustratingly high. Victims have almost no chance to recover. Patch 2.01 reduces air combo damage for all characters.
- Less chip damage from Heat Smash moves: Increased health of TEKKEN 8 characters was meant to fix the issue with chip damage, but the developers don't think it's enough. This time, they focus specifically on reducing chip damage from Heat Smash moves.
- Nerf Heat Burst to power-up defensive play: Some pro players talked about this issue even after the original release of TEKKEN 8. The developers promised to fix that, but instead, they only intensified the attack-heavy nature of the current build. Patch 2.01 brings changes to help players on the defensive side deal with Heat Burst moves.
TEKKEN 8 2.01 Patch Notes
The update 2.01 for TEKKEN 8 dropped on May 13 in Japan, which is May 12 in North America.
It’s also the date when the developers revealed full 2.01 Patch Notes.
- TEKKEN 8 Patch Notes 2.01 are on the official website here and in the images below.
Related articles
TEKKEN 8 Season 2 roadmap: Patches 2.02 and 2.03 are coming
The roadmap for TEKKEN 8 Season 2 includes two more updates with balance adjustments.
- Patch 2.02 is scheduled for June 3. It will bring changes to character-specific moves that reduce the remaining time on the Heat gauge. The battle-balance adjustments will be character-focused.
- Patch 2.03 is coming in Summer 2025. There are no gameplay details about this update so far. We know only that a Pac-Man Battle Pass Round 6 is coming.
TEKKEN 8 x Karate Kid: Legends
Update 2.02 brings a Karate Kid: Legends collaboration event to TEKKEN 8. It comes with a new cosmetic item and a vision takeover for the game stages.
- A Karate Kid: Legends hoodie will be available for free.
- Karate Kid: Legends movie posters will appear on the game stages. The trailer showed a vision takeover for Urban Square.
New items in the TEKKEN Shop
The TEKKEN 8 Season 2 Spring & Summer trailer does not highlight balance changes too much. The video’s main focus is on new cosmetics for players to buy in the Shop.
- Cyber Phantom Pack and Vigilante Tech Pack are coming with TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.01.
- Classic Costumes for Kuma, Panda, and Dragunov are part of Patch 2.02.
Pac-Man x TEKKEN 8
Both these gaming franchises were created by Bandai Namco, and it’s great to see them making something interesting together. With TEKKEN 8 Patch 2.03, we get a few Pac-Man items — mostly as Battle Pass Round 6 rewards.
- Battle Stage PAC-PIXELS
- Special hit effects
- Pac-Man 45-Anniversary T-Shirt
- TEKKEN Ball Pac-Man
- Pac-Man Head
Active adjustments to the game happen alongside the hot TEKKEN World Tour 2025 season. EVO Japan 2025 started the new esports circuit. The next big event is Combo Breaker 2025, from May 23 to May 25.
For all TEKKEN 8 news and updates, stick around on esports.gg.
