Veteran Tekken 8 character Anna Williams is making a comeback, and her new look has sparked a mix of reactions among fans. While many are thrilled with her redesign, some have drawn comparisons to Santa Claus, stirring up a debate over her updated appearance.
In response to a fan's request to revert to Anna's older design, Tekken game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada defended the new design passionately. "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you," Harada stated, emphasizing that the vast majority of fans have embraced the new look. He criticized the fan's approach as unconstructive and disrespectful to others who are excited about the changes. Harada went further, dismissing another commenter's critique about the lack of rereleases with functional netcode as "pointless," even going so far as to mute the individual.
Despite some negative feedback, particularly regarding her outfit, the overall reception to Anna's redesign has been positive. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution expressed satisfaction with the new, edgier Anna, appreciating the design's alignment with the character's personality. However, some elements like her hair and coat have drawn mixed reactions. Troonpins, for example, criticized the white feathers, likening her look to Santa Claus, while Cheap_Ad4756 noted that Anna appears younger and less like the mature, dominatrix-inspired character from previous games. Spiralqq went as far as calling the design "horrible," citing an overdesigned aesthetic that resembles Santa cosplay.
The conversation around Anna's new outfit has been lively on platforms like Reddit, where fans continue to share their thoughts and preferences. Despite these debates, Tekken 8 has seen tremendous commercial success, selling 3 million copies within a year of its release—a much faster pace than Tekken 7, which took a decade to reach 12 million copies.
In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game received a high score of 9/10, praised for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, engaging offline modes, new characters, comprehensive training tools, and an enhanced online experience. The review highlighted how Tekken 8 honors its legacy while pushing forward, cementing its place as a standout title in the series.
