Tekken 8 Boss Seeks 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 open to the idea, there hasn't been any definitive response from Waffle House.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans who are still eagerly pushing for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. This request has gained significant traction, especially since Harada has shown interest and engaged with fans on the topic.

Harada expressed that he "fully understands" the fans' requests and has been actively considering the idea. He revealed that over the past year, he has attempted to make contact through various channels to bring this concept to life. However, he speculates that the lack of response might be because his project is centered around "fighting-themed video games."

"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_TEKKEN) May 13, 2025

Harada noted 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 open to seriously reconsidering and exploring this idea again.

It appears that Kazuya and Jin won't be settling their familial differences under the yellow glow of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody version or an in-universe facsimile could be a possibility. Harada suggested "Hustle House" in another post, which could serve as 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 address feedback and implement future improvements.