Harada lied! Heihachi Mishima is Tekken 8’s next DLC character

Contrary to Game Director’s declaration that Heihachi Mishima was “totally deceased,” it was unveiled that he would be the Autumn character addition in Tekken 8!

Certainly! At EVO 2024 on its last day, a teaser video was unveiled with exciting news: The venerable grandpa character from Tekken 8 not only made it through his perilous journey to an active volcano but also survived the ordeal.

Heihachi is not dead and created his own army

At EVO 2024, I was thrilled as I watched the trailer for Heihachi’s latest story mode reveal. It began with a serene scene in the snowy mountains, where martial artists were seen training. However, as I watched closely, I recognized some of their move sets. One martial artist, in particular, caught my attention, as his launcher move seemed strikingly similar to Heihachi’s infamous FF2 attack from previous Tekken games.

Afterward, we come across an aircraft bearing the insignia of the Polish air force, and it’s revealed that this unit is called the Tekken Monks. They employ combat techniques resembling those found in Mishima-style karate.

After a brief moment, a masked character displaying electrifying abilities, commonly linked to the Mishima clan, is unveiled. This can only be Heihachi! Based on the trailer, it appears that Heihachi’s new military force will play a significant role in an enhanced Story Mode, and we’ll discover how he managed to live through his volcano plunge.

In the trailer, Eddy Gordo, Yoshimitsu, and Lidia can be spotted at the monk temple. This trio is significant because they previously joined forces but were unable to defeat Kazuya during the finale of Tekken 7 at the Millenium Tower by G Corporation.

Heihachi Tekken 8 release date

In Autumn 2024, Heihachi Mishima is expected to be unveiled as a downloadable content (DLC) addition to the game. Based on the release dates of previous characters Eddy in April and Lidia in July, it’s reasonable to anticipate that Heihachi will make his appearance sometime between October and November. This announcement also dismisses earlier rumors suggesting Craig Marduk as the third character of Season 1.

Tekken 8 Season 1 DLC characters

How did Heihachi die in Tekken 7?

I used to think Heihachi Mishima was dead, after his supposed demise at the end of Tekken 7. But then, out of nowhere, he showed up at EVO 2024, leaving me and many other gamers in awe. It’s not the first time Heihachi has “died,” but this time it seemed different. With his daughter Reina joining the roster as a new playable character in Tekken 8, some fans began to suspect that Heihachi’s legacy was being preserved in a unique way. After all, she inherited many of his moves and could potentially carry on his fighting style.

In Tekken 7, Heihachi met his end when when his son Kazuya delivered a fatal blow during their ultimate confrontation. After Kazuya emerged victorious, he tossed Heihachi’s body off the edge of a volcano, where it plunged into the lava below. Kazuya then declared triumphantly, “A fight is only about who survives. Nothing more, nothing less.”

In Tekken 1’s opening scene, Heihachi throws Kazuya off a cliff. This action in the original game was mirrored by Kazuya, who later pushed his father into a volcano in the current scenario.

How did Heihachi survive if Harada said he died?

In Tekken 8, the supposed demise of Heihachi from Tekken 7 raises intriguing questions about how he could still be alive. This is especially perplexing given that Katsuhiro Harada, the executive producer of Tekken 7 and a known fan favorite character of the franchise, declared in a 2023 interview that Heihachi had indeed met his end.

Harada expressed in an interview with TheGamer that Heihachi appeared deceased to him. Since Heihachi hadn’t successfully transformed the devil gene, he didn’t possess it and therefore couldn’t resurrect like Kazuya or Jin do.

In an interview, Tekken 7’s producer and translator Michael Murray mentioned that Harada emphasized to the development team that since Heihachi had supposedly perished numerous times prior, it was crucial to portray his death in a believable manner this time around.

My theory of why Heihachi is alive

Heihachi’s trailer at EVO 2024 ends with him appearing in tattered clothes, which seems reminiscent of his attire during his battle against Kazuya in Tekken 7. We propose that the masked Heihachi at the beginning of the trailer represents present-day Heihachi, while the scene towards the end, where Heihachi is “revealed,” likely depicts a flashback to immediately after he fell into the volcano.

His complexion is distinctly flushed, with beads of sweat collecting on his visage and steam rising from his body. However, there’s no trace of burn scars, suggesting that his skin never came into contact with the lava. Yet, if he doesn’t possess the gene for being a demon, then what or who prevented him from being harmed by the molten substance?

Did Ogre save Heihachi?

A possible hint is the likeness of the statue glimpsed at the end of the trailer to the Ancient Ogre antagonist from Tekken 3 and Tekken 5. Ancient Ogre was the primary adversary in those games, but it wasn’t present in Tekken 4. Instead, Heihachi attempted to harness its DNA for eternal life through an experiment. However, he didn’t possess the Devil Gene, leading him to arrange the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 as a means to lure Jin and Kazuya into play.

Towards the close of Tekken 7, Kazuya delivers the finishing blow against Heihachi. In that moment, Kazuya’s power appears to penetrate Heihachi. Was it possible that Kazuya transferred the devil gene to Heihachi, thereby activating the ancient Ogre DNA within him and enabling him to endure the fall into the volcano? Alternatively, could this have been just a standard Mishima electric attack?

I’m excitedly looking forward to finding out more about the mystery surrounding Jun Kazama’s return in Tekken 8, but I won’t be surprised if the explanation isn’t overly complex or deep. The twist in Tekken 2 about her supposed death was quite a shocker, so it will be intriguing to see how the story unfolds from there.

Currently, discussing the possibility of Heihachi returning for Tekken 8 is merely enjoyable speculation. However, this potential development bodes well for the game’s success. As for Marduk joining as a Season 1 character, I’d prefer if that didn’t happen.