In one of the vital bonkers collaborations in gaming historical past, Yujiro Hanma is coming to Tekken 8 early subsequent 12 months. His reveal at Combo Breaker 2026 set off an avalanche of memes and hypothesis, leaving followers equal components hopeful and terrified that he’ll be simply as sturdy within the sport as he’s within the Baki manga.
We acquired the prospect to talk with Tekken sequence chief producer, Naoya Yasuda, who answered our burning questions on ‘The Ogre’ and the way the builders will adapt the famously overpowered fighter to suit inside Tekken 8’s framework. We additionally requested what impressed this collaboration within the first place, and if Yasuda had seen the memes about Yujiro’s inclusion within the sport. (Spoiler alert: Sure, he has, and he loves them.)
We additionally chatted with Yuki Yokoi, director of promotions and a earlier editor for the Baki manga, who spoke concerning the significance of Yujiro being a visitor character in Tekken 8, Baki’s thirty fifth anniversary, and his ideas about followers’ reactions to this surprising however welcome partnership between one of the vital celebrated martial arts manga of all time and one of the vital vital 3D combating sport franchises ever created.
IGN: Tekken is not any stranger to including oddball visitor characters from different genres (The Strolling Lifeless’s Negan involves thoughts), however Yujiro is a complete different stage of nutty. What gave you the thought to place him within the sport?
Naoya Yasuda: Guest characters within the Tekken sequence have been the topic of infinite dialogue, each inside our growth staff and throughout the group. However the sensible actuality is that merely saying, “We would like this character in Tekken,” doesn’t imply a accomplice firm will give us the inexperienced mild. A visitor collaboration solely comes collectively when a nice many sophisticated components — the timing for each manufacturers, licensing, business phrases and extra — line up completely.
In that sense, the thought of bringing Yujiro Hanma over from the Baki sequence isn’t one thing that got here up just lately. It really dates again to the Tekken 7 period, proper across the time Baki was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.
Tekken and Baki share a non secular affinity that runs deep. There may be the motif on the coronary heart of each tales — a fated combat between father and son — together with a daring, uncompromising worldview, and above all of the overwhelming character of Yujiro Hanma himself: the “Strongest Creature on Earth,” and the one man on the planet who fights on uncooked bodily power alone. Now we have felt a highly effective kinship with the sequence for a very long time, and we at all times hoped that if the perfect alternative ever got here alongside, we might make a collaboration occur.
This time, the timing of Baki reaching the main milestone of its thirty fifth anniversary lined up superbly with our personal seek for new visitor character prospects. An concept we had held onto for years, the histories of each IPs, and the fervour of each fanbases and communities all intersected directly. Seen that method, selecting to collaborate with the Baki sequence and convey Yujiro Hanma down into our world was, in a sense, a wholly pure development.
IGN: I previously spoke with Road Fighter 6 director Nakayama-san and producer Matsumoto-san, they usually have been curious to see how Tekken will deal with powerscaling the sport, given Yujiro is canonically the strongest man on earth in Baki lore. So, how do you propose to make it in order that Yujiro can really lose a combat or get crushed up?
Naoya Yasuda: Really, Nakayama-san and Matsumoto-san at Capcom requested me this actual query in individual! [Laughs] I’ve huge respect for the Road Fighter 6 staff personally, so I used to be glad it caught their curiosity.
The problem beneath all of it could be very clear-cut. Tekken 8 is a aggressive combating sport, so one aspect at all times loses — and naturally there can be occasions when the one dropping is Yujiro Hanma. On the identical time, we’re effectively conscious of the voices saying, “I don’t need to see Yujiro lose.” As a Baki fan myself, I felt precisely the identical method! [Laughs]
How we resolve that contradiction and translate it into Tekken 8 is one thing we’re working by proper now, with growth actively underway. Since we introduced his participation at Combo Breaker 2026 in Chicago in late Could, we’ve got seen every kind of theories and wishlists go up on social media. I feel expectations are that a lot larger exactly as a result of the Tekken Undertaking has saved delivering visitor characters at a excessive stage — which actually retains us on our toes.
What we worth most is delivering each issues directly: the weather our aggressive group and our most devoted combating sport gamers are on the lookout for, and an awesome “Yujiro Hanma expertise” — the sensation, the moment you decide him up, that you’re controlling the very Yujiro Hanma you examine within the manga. Neither one takes precedence over the opposite.
We’re within the thick of growth, and Season 3 nonetheless has Bob arriving in August and Roger Jr. this autumn, so it will likely be a little longer earlier than we will reveal way more. That mentioned, the teaser trailer we confirmed at Combo Breaker 2026 does include a few hints. Please rewatch it a few occasions, decide up the manga and revisit Yujiro Hanma’s historical past up to now, and let your creativeness run wild! [Laughs]
We’re pursuing a presentation and a really feel that maintain to the principles and aggressive integrity of a combating sport whereas nonetheless letting you sense, the second you progress him, that you’re controlling Yujiro himself with your individual fingers. Preventing sport followers ought to be capable of take pleasure in him as a severe aggressive software, and Baki followers as the last word fantasy made actual. I’d love for Nakayama-san and Matsumoto-san to choose up a controller and see our reply for themselves!
IGN: Talking of Road Fighter 6, there appears to be a development proper now within the combating sport area the place builders are including visitor characters from different franchises — Tifa and Kenshiro come to thoughts. What do you make of this development? Why are so many mainline combating video games doing this?
Naoya Yasuda: In case you categorize DLC characters, they fall into three broad varieties: 1) Returning legacy characters, 2) Model-new authentic characters, and three) Guest characters.
Growth price and total problem rise in precisely that order. Guest characters imply creating with an exterior rights holder’s IP on mortgage, which isn’t simple. That’s the reason, for any title, it’s bodily tough to do them usually — each one is a genuinely treasured alternative.
However the payoff you get in return for that effort is one among a variety. For current gamers, having a character enter from a fully completely different world creates a distinctive form of pleasure: “What sort of character are they going to be?” And for brand new gamers, there may be the joys of a long-held dream state of affairs changing into actual: “What wouldn’t it really be like if I might management my favourite character myself?”
One defining trait of the combating sport style is how shut gamers and builders are to one another. That’s precisely why each the individuals delivering one thing like this and the individuals receiving it could take pleasure in it collectively, as a single celebration. In that respect, I really feel Yujiro Hanma is functioning extraordinarily powerfully as a bridge connecting manga and anime followers with combating sport followers.
The truth that the combating sport business as a complete is actively pursuing initiatives that attract new followers from exterior is giving individuals who have by no means touched a combating sport a clear and compelling cause to choose up an arcade stick or a controller and step into our group. I feel this development is rising exactly as a result of the style as a complete is maturing to the purpose the place it capabilities as a hub for popular culture.
So long as these are made with respect for different firms’ IPs and with deep love for the supply materials, I really feel we’re increasing the combating sport ecosystem itself as an business — creating a fantastic virtuous cycle for builders, licensors, and above all for gamers.
IGN: Yujiro looks like a difficult character to translate into a sport like Tekken. How far are you into growth for him, and what’s been the largest problem bringing him to life?
Naoya Yasuda: As I discussed earlier, we nonetheless have lots left to ship on the Season 3 timeline. If I leap too far forward and spill all the small print on Yujiro Hanma proper now, the advertising staff will activate me, and I can be in deep trouble! [Laughs]
We’re nonetheless constructing him out fastidiously, factor by factor, with shut supervision from Itagaki-sensei and Akita Shoten, so I hope you’ll perceive that I can’t share many concrete specifics but. Guest characters require a far longer growth interval than returning characters. It’s true that growth is coming into the house stretch forward of his launch in early 2027, and as his stage of polish rises daily, my very own urge to get this “Strongest Creature on Earth” into everybody’s fingers solely grows stronger.
On the technical aspect, translating the one-of-a-kind silhouette and sheer conviction of Keisuke Itagaki-sensei’s paintings into 3D graphics — and having our animators construct, body by body and completely by hand, the manga-style exaggeration that no stay actor might ever reproduce — has with out query made this a completely different form of problem for the mission than something we normally tackle.
Realistically, we received’t be capable of share the subsequent spherical of Yujiro data till not less than across the time you may hear Roger Jr.’s footsteps approaching this autumn. However the overwhelming sense of stress Yujiro tasks when he squares off towards an opponent on display screen is certainly shaping as much as exceed followers’ expectations. Please look ahead to it!
IGN: After all, a lot of followers are hoping to see strikes from his iconic fights within the anime and manga inside his Tekken moveset. How devoted to the supply materials do you propose to be, or will you’re taking some liberties with this model of the character? (On that notice, some gamers need him to be completely busted, in line with Baki lore. What do you make of these opinions?)
Naoya Yasuda: The Tekken sequence is understood for giving every character a very giant variety of strikes, and that idea doesn’t change a lot for Yujiro Hanma. So we’re constructing his strikes with the unique manga as our base — not simply the well-known huge methods and the memorable scenes, however inspecting and learning it panel by panel. Basically, each one among his strikes might be traced again to the manga. Naturally, for components that exist in Tekken however not in Baki — common system mechanics and the like — we’ve got to construct our personal interpretations, however we’re being meticulous about by no means straying from the inspiration and the world of the supply materials.
As for his efficiency… I think that is a query I’ll preserve being requested proper up till launch! [Laughs]
Look, if he’s too weak, followers of the manga and the anime can be disillusioned; and if he’s too sturdy and breaks the sport stability, the extra devoted gamers will lose curiosity. Discovering the suitable touchdown level is genuinely tough, however personally I’ve no intention of settling for something half-hearted.
Recreating “a presence so overwhelming that simply having him stand on display screen makes you’re feeling you may’t win,” defending a wholesome aggressive expertise as a combating sport, and putting the precise stability the place anybody who strikes him is satisfied, “this actually is the Strongest Creature on Earth” — that’s the proper reply for me as a producer, and it’s the level we’re aiming for.
However don’t fear. Even in the event you occur to lose whereas enjoying as Yujiro Hanma, that isn’t Yujiro Hanma’s defeat — you’re merely the one who misplaced. Yujiro Hanma has not misplaced. So Yujiro Hanma stays the “Strongest Creature on Earth,” it doesn’t matter what occurs! [Laughs] Please look ahead to it!
IGN: Baki is arguably the preferred martial arts manga proper now (barring Kengan Ashura). If Yujiro is well-received, would the staff ever take into account making a Baki combating sport?
Naoya Yasuda: Listening to you say that makes me very completely satisfied as a fan! That mentioned, trying on the nature of the Baki sequence and the best way the business has been creating currently, I feel there may be extra of a dream in it for followers if Yujiro and the opposite compelling characters flip up throughout all types of combating video games — in order that whichever combating sport a participant opens, they’ll freely management a Baki character — than if we have been to monopolize the IP. Perhaps I really feel that method all of the extra as a result of I’m a die-hard Baki fan myself! [Laughs]
We give the whole lot we’ve got, each day, to make the Tekken group greater and extra passionate, and we need to preserve doing that. To that finish, the teachings and technical perception we’ve got gained by this Yujiro Hanma mission have been substantial. How do you categorical the overwhelming physicality, the burden of each strike, and the intimidating presence that dominates the area in Keisuke Itagaki-sensei’s paintings as 3D motion, and provides gamers the overwhelming immersion of controlling a manga character themselves? That problem has unquestionably pushed our growth staff’s creativity and technical capability to the subsequent stage.
First, although, our mission and our prime precedence is to deliver this “Strongest Creature on Earth” into Tekken 8 — which we’re pouring the whole lot into proper now — in the absolute best kind, one which combating sport followers and Baki followers all over the world might be 100% glad with.
I sincerely hope this collaboration carves a new wave of pleasure into the historical past of the Baki sequence in its thirty fifth anniversary 12 months, and turns into the last word celebration for each fanbases.
IGN: Followers have already seen some parallels between Tekken and the Baki sequence: some characters like Feng and Fahkumram acquired some inspiration from this sequence, and its essential battle can also be about a father and son combat, much like Tekken. Was Tekken impressed by Baki in any method? What do you make of those parallels between the 2 properties?
Naoya Yasuda: It’s fascinating that followers have picked up on these commonalities and similarities, and as a fan myself I discover a lot of it convincing.
The Baki sequence is with out query a monument within the style of Japanese combating manga, and it continues to have an unlimited affect on each creator who depicts martial arts and the thought of power. There have been many devoted Baki followers among the many successive Tekken growth groups through the years, so it’s undeniably true that inspiration from Baki — each unconscious and acutely aware — lives on in our character designs, in how we categorical methods, and within the underlying bearing of our fighters.
On the core theme of a “fated battle between father and son,” I actually really feel a highly effective non secular resonance between the Mishima household (Heihachi, Kazuya and Jin) and the Hanma household (Yujiro and Baki). However I don’t assume one imitated the opposite. Moderately, I consider that once you got down to depict the intense drama of hand-to-hand fight, you inevitably arrive at battle inside a bloodline — the oldest, most elementary and most violent conflict of emotion there may be for human beings.
Tekken 8 contains many particular intros and exchanges staged for when specific characters face one another. What’s going to Yujiro — the “Strongest Creature on Earth” and the last word father — say to Tekken 8’s strongest fighters, and what is going to these exchanges appear like? That’s one thing else to look ahead to.
The place Baki has pursued the fantasy of the “Strongest Creature on Earth” by the medium of manga, Tekken has pursued the joys of performing fight with your individual fingers and overwhelming your opponent by the medium of 3D combating video games. The platforms differ, however each have spent many years chasing the identical questions: what’s power, and what’s the aesthetic of combating? Having the 2 intersect now, on the perfect stage of Tekken 8, feels virtually like future. I actually hope followers throw themselves into each a part of this crossover!
IGN: After all, the reactions to Yujiro’s reveal have been extraordinarily animated. Some really feel he is a good match for Tekken, whereas others assume he is a bit too on the market for the sport. What do you make of those reactions?
Naoya Yasuda: I’m effectively conscious that in relation to visitor characters there are at all times a vary of opinions concerning the choice, and blended views about which IP to incorporate. There isn’t a such factor as a character alternative that satisfies 100% of gamers worldwide, and I feel it is just pure that some gamers aren’t eager on the thought of visitor characters in any respect.
On the identical time, the size of the response to this collaboration with the Baki sequence actually went effectively past what we had anticipated. We thought we had a agency grasp of how effectively Tekken and Baki match collectively, however once we confirmed the teaser trailer at Combo Breaker 2026 in Chicago in Could, the explosive roar that erupted within the venue — and the thrill that adopted throughout social media and communities worldwide — far surpassed the size we had imagined.
Seeing the web overflow with followers’ expectations, theories and free-ranging hypothesis has, frankly, put huge stress on me as a producer and on the event staff! [Laughs] With expectations this excessive, we completely can not make one thing second-rate that will let followers down — that retains everybody on the mission centered.
Whether or not persons are excited or watching cautiously, all of it reaches us as a result of they take Tekken critically. We are going to flip that giant stress into the very best form of vitality and end him to a “strongest on earth” stage of high quality that leaves everybody speechless the second they contact him. Please look ahead to it!
IGN: What’s the one factor you are excited for gamers to expertise when Yujiro releases?
Naoya Yasuda: What I need individuals to expertise essentially the most is the overwhelming sense of presence and immersion that runs by your complete physique the moment you seize a controller or an arcade stick and transfer him on display screen: “proper now, I’m instantly controlling the ‘Strongest Creature on Earth’ I examine within the manga.”
The heavy suggestions of a single strike, the intimidating presence that dominates the very area when he squares off towards an opponent, and the sheer aura of overwhelming power radiating from the display screen — we’re honing all of it to absolutely the restrict inside the Tekken 8 framework.
For long-time Tekken followers and aggressive combating sport gamers, there may be the last word thoughts sport of understanding easy methods to grasp this strongest-on-earth character and management him as a aggressive software. And for followers who’ve cherished the Baki manga and anime, there may be the last word fantasy: a dream held for years, realized interactively precisely as imagined.
The entire growth staff will preserve working with out compromise proper to the very finish in order that we will ship, fairly actually, a “Yujiro Hanma expertise” that convinces everybody the second they contact it. Please let your expectations run excessive!
IGN: Do you could have any information on once we will see the subsequent trailer for him, both gameplay or a character render?
Naoya Yasuda: I can’t provide you with a precise date at this level however, as I discussed earlier, Season 3 nonetheless has Bob in August and Roger Jr. this autumn. The highest precedence is for followers to take their time and luxuriate in what these two deliver.
So I feel the earliest we can present new gameplay footage or visuals — a character render — of Yujiro Hanma can be someday after autumn, at which level you may clearly hear Roger Jr.’s footsteps approaching.
However please relaxation assured. Below shut supervision with Akita Shoten, the whole lot on the event ground — his stance, his actions, and each asset wanted to specific the “Strongest Creature on Earth” — is steadily coming collectively. We’re making ready footage with an influence that can leap far previous no matter you could have imagined or hoped for, so please benefit from the Season 3 timeline and watch for the subsequent replace!
IGN: Talking of renders, there have been a few fan-made ones floating across the web. What are your opinions on these?
Naoya Yasuda: After all I’m conscious of all of the fan-made renders, mock-ups, and fan artwork flying round on-line — and I’ve been having fun with checking them out myself! [Laughs]
The truth that followers are imagining “their perfect Yujiro Hanma,” placing within the time to create work of that high quality and sharing it, is the clearest doable proof of how a lot ardour they’re pouring into this collaboration. Talking as a creator, I’m really grateful.
That vitality — everybody creating “my Tekken Yujiro” and getting enthusiastic about it — is the very best gas this collaboration might have. With Roger Jr. becoming a member of this autumn as effectively, we made a level of embracing web memes and group tradition, as a result of greater than something we need to preserve valuing that playful spirit and enthusiasm from our gamers.
That’s precisely why I don’t need this big pageant, this huge wave round Yujiro Hanma’s arrival, to remain confined to the event aspect. I need to construct it up so far as it could probably go, along with the followers!
Will probably be a little longer — someday after autumn, round when you may hear Roger Jr.’s footsteps — earlier than we will present official gameplay footage and an official render. However we’ll unveil one thing completed to a commonplace that matches your unimaginable enthusiasm, so please preserve these wild concepts coming and look ahead to it!
Screens – Baki
IGN: Baki is arguably the preferred martial arts manga proper now (barring Kengan Ashura). If Yujiro is effectively obtained, would you take into account making a Baki combating sport?
Yuki Yokoi: There was one console adaptation a very long time in the past, launched as a PlayStation title, however nothing since. In order a fan myself, I’d like to see it occur.
IGN: What’s your tackle the parallels between Baki and Tekken? Have been you ever a fan of combating video games, and in that case, what’s your tackle the parallel’s between Baki and Tekken?
Yuki Yokoi: I’m not excellent at combating video games, however I’ve performed a little bit of the whole lot — I put a lot of effort into Tobal No. 1 on the PlayStation, amongst others.
As for what the 2 works have in widespread, I feel the smallest unit of it’s the father-son combat. Greater than being the strongest man on earth, or mastering martial arts, what runs by each is one thing far simpler to understand: the easy, vertical throughline of eager to beat your individual father. That, to my thoughts, is what they share.
IGN: After all, the reactions to Yujiro’s reveal have been extraordinarily animated. Some really feel he is a good match for Tekken, whereas others assume he is a bit too on the market for the sport. What do you make of those reactions?
Yuki Yokoi: Initially, I really feel each relieved and elated that one thing we had been discussing with Bandai Namco for 5 years has lastly come to fruition. Within the supply materials, Yujiro is an overwhelmingly highly effective character who has by no means misplaced, in order a Baki fan I perceive the considerations individuals have.
I knew that Baki had been spreading abroad by the anime and so forth, however seeing so many worldwide followers erupt with one thing near sheer euphoria when the announcement went out at Combo Breaker made me genuinely completely satisfied — and Itagaki-sensei was delighted as effectively.
The Tekken growth staff has additionally engaged with the Baki sequence with large sincerity. There have been factors throughout supervision the place I accepted one thing as unavoidable given the sport’s specs, just for the staff to return again on the subsequent session and say, “On reflection, let’s repair this so it feels extra like Yujiro.” With a staff like that, I feel followers of each works will be capable of take pleasure in a Yujiro they are going to be genuinely completely satisfied to see.
IGN: Working with Bandai Namco to deliver Yujiro to Tekken, what’s one factor you are excited for gamers and followers to expertise when he releases?
Yuki Yokoi: Merely with the ability to play as Yujiro — the expertise of everybody attending to change into the Strongest Creature on Earth. Please take pleasure in that. He has not often been made playable up to now, in any case.
IGN: Baki is celebrating its thirty fifth anniversary. How do you’re feeling concerning the influence this iconic martial arts franchise has had each on its followers and the better media area?
Yuki Yokoi: I can’t converse to how it’s abroad or worldwide, however in Japan individuals usually discuss by way of “earlier than Baki” and “after Baki.” You hear a lot that it modified the best way power is depicted. The world of Baki tends to painting power by characters with such large presence that you may’t start to grasp how they turned that sturdy. I feel Baki’s affect on that method of depicting power has been appreciable.
IGN: Baki has had collaborations with a number of main manufacturers because the Most Evil Dying Row Convicts arc aired on Netflix. With the IP celebrating its thirty fifth 12 months, how does it really feel to see the IP continued to broaden and be celebrated, and what do you make of its success within the years since then?
Yuki Yokoi: Talking as somebody concerned with the sequence, I feel the easy fact is that earlier than the 2018 anime adaptation, far too little was being completed with it — merchandising included — relative to the size of the work itself. My feeling is that individuals have lastly discovered it.
The core fanbase, the unique readers, are round my very own age, of their forties, and the truth that these individuals have begun to carry a diploma of decision-making authority of their jobs is, I feel, one cause these collaborations have elevated. You may say Baki followers have began pushing their very own egocentric needs by, every in their very own enviornment.
IGN: Plenty of manga and anime are getting live-action reveals. Is Baki a property that you would see having a live-action adaptation at some point?
Yuki Yokoi: I can’t say it would by no means occur. Itagaki-sensei is cautious about it, however he has by no means mentioned no outright. That mentioned, taking a look at previous examples that didn’t work out, I feel it could solely transfer ahead as soon as we might fastidiously conclude that it wouldn’t disappoint the followers.
IGN: Is there something you’d wish to say to followers of the manga and anime, both about this collaboration, or concerning the thirty fifth anniversary?
Yuki Yokoi: The thirty fifth anniversary will proceed on from right here, however for now, that is a collaboration between two works constructed on the best father-son fights of the century. A father who has introduced his circle of relatives’s feud to a sure conclusion is moving into the Mishima household’s wrestle — please look ahead to seeing how that unfolds!
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s acquired a storied background within the combating sport group, influencer information, and viral on-line developments. Discover her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.