Tekken 8 chief aims for Waffle House tie-in, rejected

For months, Tekken enthusiasts have clamored for an unlikely addition – a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. While game director Katsuhiro Harada seems receptive, progress remains stalled as the iconic diner chain hasn't reciprocated interest.

Harada Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Efforts

On social media, Harada addressed persistent fan requests for the American diner-themed arena. The idea gained traction after the director himself showed curiosity about the concept.

Harada confirmed he "fully comprehends" the community's passion, revealing he's already made multiple attempts to contact Waffle House through various channels over the past year.

"The radio silence might stem from our game's association with combat sports," Harada speculated about the lack of response. "This situation is exceptionally rare in my experience."

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

Alternative Solutions Explored

With the official partnership appearing unlikely, Harada floated alternative approaches. He expressed willingness to develop a parody version that preserves the essence while avoiding trademark issues.

"If we can maintain the core concept under a different name or format, I'd gladly revisit this idea," Harada stated. He later joked about "Hustle House" as a potential substitute.

Meanwhile, Tekken 8 continues evolving with Patch 2.01 and the impending arrival of Fahkumram. Harada recently addressed player concerns about Season 2, confirming his team is diligently analyzing feedback for future improvements.