The honeymoon period for [Tekken 8] appears to be over, as reviews on Steam have been slipping in recent weeks, with a recent score down to a paltry 54% "Mixed" rating as of this writing. The reason for this is "microtransactions."

Fans have been venting their frustration over Bandai Namco's unexpected monetization on the game's store page. It all started in February, a month after the game's release, when the community was divided over the surprise release of a cash store. Some supported the promise that the money would go directly back into the game's development, while others were angered by the fact that Bamco waited a full month after launch and made no mention of monetization.

Things seem to have only gotten worse from there. Tekken 8 has recently been the subject of several ...... Battle Pass with some dubious premium perks. From assets that have appeared in previous "Tekken" games to paid rewards that look like untextured spheres, the reputation for the Battle Pass has been unkind. The fact that the Battle Pass costs $6 in real money, but can only be purchased in $5 or $10 increments in Tekken coin bundles, explains the poor feedback.

One Steam reviewer pointed to the fact that while Tekken 8 has been plagued with issues related to netcode and cheaters, it has yet to properly address them, while cash stores and battle passes are being pushed." Scum is not the word to describe it. He said, "I would not recommend any product that is devoted to such dubious practices. It's a shame, because the core game itself is a lot of fun."

. [It is not only the microtransaction nonsense that has drawn ire. The paid cosmetics have led Bamco to target modders with DMCA and takedown notices on Twitter against model and costume exchanges. 'The game is terrible and Bandai is very greedy and going after modders with copyright claims. It's ridiculous," wrote one reviewer. 'Cosmetics, the Battle Pass system, and the hefty Season Pass cash cow for fighting games: .......'

Another inflamed fan wrote, "The game has real concerns that need to be addressed, like plug-ins and general game balance, but Bamco is instead prioritizing taking away mods because they hurt revenue from the cash store. A truly laughable decision."

I have previously written on this site about my distaste for Battle Pass, and in my review I criticized the fighting game Street Fighter 6 for implementing such a thing. Even when I was reviewing "Tekken 8," there was no mention of any monetization, cash store, or battle pass plans, and if they had been implemented at launch, they would have certainly affected my final review score.

I'm never a fan of anything that generates FOMO, and the cosmetic-laden Battle Pass is just that. However, Namco Bandai seems determined to keep digging their heels in because of how much money it will cost to make games in 2024. My knowledge of the industry doesn't tell me if there are safer ways to generate revenue, but the developer may want to act quickly to restore some of its reputation with its fan base.