Tekken 8 Boss Attempts Waffle House Crossover, Fails

For some time now, Tekken fans have been vocal about their desire for a Waffle House stage in the game. While it may seem like a playful request, it has gained significant traction, especially since Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, has shown interest and even taken steps to make it a reality.

On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans' ongoing requests for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. He expressed a deep understanding of the fans' wishes and revealed that he had been considering this challenge for quite some time. Harada mentioned that over the past year, he has attempted to reach out to Waffle House through multiple channels to explore the possibility of including their iconic setting in the game.

"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," Harada stated 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 pointed out that receiving "no response" is a rare occurrence for him. He also suggested that if fans are open to using a different name or format, as long as the core concept remains intact, he would be willing to revisit and explore this idea further.

While it appears unlikely that Kazuya and Jin will battle it out under the iconic yellow Waffle House sign in the near future, a parody or in-universe equivalent could still be possible. Harada floated the idea of "Hustle House" as an alternative, which could serve as a fun nod to the original request.

In other Tekken 8 news, the game is currently rolling out Patch 2.01, and the addition of Fahkumram to the roster has been confirmed. Back in April, Harada addressed fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, reassuring players that the tuning team is working tirelessly to incorporate feedback and improve the game.