For quite some time, the Tekken community has been vocal about their desire to see a Waffle House stage added to Tekken 8. Not in the real world, but within the game itself. Despite the enthusiasm from fans and the interest expressed by Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, Waffle House itself hasn't taken the bait.
On X/Twitter, Harada directly addressed fans who continue to push for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. This request has gained significant momentum, partly because Harada has shown a keen interest and has been actively engaging with the idea.
Harada admitted that he "fully understands" the fans' requests and has been thinking about it for a while. In fact, he has taken steps to make it happen, reaching out through various channels over the past year or more. However, he speculates that the lack of response from Waffle House might be due to his association with "fighting-themed video games."
"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," Harada shared on X/Twitter. "However, and this is purely my own speculation, I suspect that the lack of response may be due to the fact that the project I'm known for revolves around 'fighting-themed video games.'"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
Harada noted that receiving "no response" is a rare occurrence for him. He also mentioned that if using a different name or format is acceptable, as long as "the core message is maintained," he would be open to re-exploring the idea.
It appears unlikely that Kazuya and Jin will resolve their family disputes under the glow of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody or an in-game equivalent could still be on the table. Harada suggested "Hustle House" as a potential alternative in another post, which could be a viable option.
Meanwhile, Tekken 8 is gearing up for a new update with Patch 2.01, following the announcement of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. In April, Harada addressed fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, reassuring the community that the tuning team is working tirelessly to incorporate feedback and enhance future updates.
