Tekken 8 Boss Attempts 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 to be interested in the idea, there hasn't been any official response from Waffle House yet.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans who are still eagerly requesting a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. This demand has gained significant traction, especially since Harada has shown interest in exploring the possibility further.

Harada stated that he "fully understands" the fans' requests and has been actively considering the idea. In fact, he has already taken steps to make it happen. "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.'"

"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 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 willing to seriously reconsider and explore 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 possible. 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. Back in April, Harada addressed fan frustration over Tekken 8's Season 2, assuring that the tuning team is working "around the clock" to incorporate feedback and make future improvements.