Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada reveals that a standalone Tekken Tag Tournament 3 is unlikely, suggesting fans may see the tag mode return within Tekken 8 or a future mainline sequel.
Fans of the Tekken franchise may need to temper their hopes for a standalone Tekken Tag Tournament 3, as series producer Katsuhiro Harada has confirmed that such a project is highly unlikely to happen during his “working lifetime.” In a recent interview with Destructoid, Harada addressed fan questions about the future of the beloved tag-team spin-off series and revealed that the most probable scenario is for the tag mode to appear as part of Tekken 8 or a future mainline installment.
Harada explained that the concept of a dedicated Tag Tournament game has become increasingly difficult to justify in today’s gaming market. “If we start now to make a Tekken Tag Tournament 3, by the time it’s released, the tag-fighter genre might no longer be popular,” he said. He added that, while the franchise has plenty of moves and mechanics that distinguish it from traditional 2D fighters, the sheer scope of creating a fully-fledged 3D tag fighter makes a standalone game a major undertaking. For these reasons, he believes that the next generation of developers may be the ones to tackle such a project.
Instead of a separate title, Harada suggests that the Tekken Tag Tournament experience could be integrated into Tekken 8 or a future mainline entry as a dedicated game mode. This approach would allow players to enjoy tag-team battles without the need for a separate release, keeping the concept alive within the evolving framework of the Tekken series.
The interview also touched on the long-anticipated crossover Tekken X Street Fighter, a project that was quietly shelved years ago. While originally planned as Bandai Namco’s follow-up to Capcom’s Street Fighter X Tekken, Harada admitted that the game’s current status is uncertain. “It’s hard to say if that’s even a thing,” he noted. However, he expressed interest in sharing what had already been developed, which reportedly reached about 30 percent completion before development was paused.
It’s worth noting that Tekken 7 partially realized the crossover idea by including Akuma as a playable character, and Tekken 8 continues to feature crossover fighters from various franchises, including Fatal Fury and Final Fantasy. This ongoing integration demonstrates Bandai Namco’s willingness to explore cross-franchise content, even if Tekken X Street Fighter itself remains on hold.
For context, the last standalone Tag Tournament game was released in 2011 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and eventually the Wii U. Since then, fans have eagerly awaited a new entry, but Harada’s comments indicate that, for now, the focus will remain on enriching the mainline series rather than reviving the spin-off.
Meanwhile, Tekken 8 continues to expand its roster and gameplay options, with upcoming additions including Armor King and Miyao Zo. While a standalone Tag Tournament may be a distant dream, fans can still look forward to tag-inspired battles and new content integrated directly into the evolving Tekken universe.
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