TheStreet Fighterfranchise was one of the many IPs that added to the excitement surrounding the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, with the next generation of Nintendo hardware already having an ambitious range of titles lined up for its launch. Away from the exclusives that grabbed a lot of the headlines following the Switch 2’s Direct presentation, many titles have announced their intentions to release ports for the console, with the most recentStreet Fightertitle making the list.
This comes as great news to many fans of theStreet Fighterfranchise, while also putting some added pressure on the series' direct competitors. One ofStreet Fighter’s most longstanding rivals is theTekkenfranchise, and despite nothing currently being announced, Bandai Namco could do well to announce a Nintendo Switch 2 port ofTekken 8to enjoy the same benefits thatStreet Fighter 6is likely to receive when the console launches on June 5.
Tekken 8 Has a Lot to Gain From a Nintendo Switch 2 Port of its Own
As expected, one of the largestappeals of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the improved hardware that the console will possess, with its predecessor garnering a negative reputation for its lack of compatibility with more demanding games. With reports suggesting that the Switch 2 will be around ten times more powerful than the original console, Nintendo has a massive opportunity ahead of itself to provide its players with access to more third-party projects, and this could finally see a lot of games making the jump over to the new console.
While a lot ofcontroversy currently exists over the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2, a lot of positive sentiment exists around the already-confirmed projects for the console, with an officialStreet Fighter 6port being a fantastic added bonus to what fans have in store. Of course, Nintendo has already confirmed a lot of projects with major Japanese gaming studios, with the likes ofYakuza 0: Director’s Cutand FromSoftware’sThe Duskbloods, and another titan of the Japanese fighting game industry should find itself on the list.
The current price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is reported as $449.99, dominating a lot of the discourse following its long-awaited reveal presentation.
Tekken 8released in January 2024 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC as the tenth entry to the longstanding Bandai Namco franchise, and the prestige and availability of the series seems deserving of the sameSwitch 2 port that 2023’sStreet Fighter 6is set to receive. The hardware of the Switch 2 should be able to handle a nearly one-to-one port ofTekken 8, so the title has no reason to let one of its direct competitors get uncontested access to a new pool of potential players.
Tekken 8’s Live Service Status is Perfect For a Nintendo Switch 2 Port
Not only woulda Switch 2 port ofTekken 8maintain this longstanding high level of competition, but it would also be a perfect match for the title’s nature as a live service game, as such a release could provide a massive boost to the possibilities of its post-launch content and its overall lifespan. Players could have an easier time keeping up with all the new content if they could play on the go, too. The announcement ofStreet Fighter 6for the upcoming console is a clear testament to how receptive the Switch 2’s player base will be toward up-to-date fighting games, making it all the more confusing as to why a collaboration has not already been announced between Nintendo and Bandai Namco.
The currently confirmed launch projects for the Nintendo Switch 2are deeply exciting, but it is clear that the upcoming console still has an immense amount of room to expand its scope even further. Projects like the confirmed Switch 2 port ofStreet Fighter 6are already acting as a big statement of intent for this next era of Nintendo, and some healthy competition in the form of aTekken 8port would seemingly be as beneficial to the gaming giant as it would be for Bandai Namco’s iconic fighting series.
