For some time now, Tekken fans have been vocal about their desire to see a Waffle House stage in the game. While this request might seem whimsical, it has gained significant traction, especially with Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, showing interest and even taking steps to explore its feasibility.
On X/Twitter, Harada responded to fans still eagerly pushing for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. He acknowledged the demand and expressed that he "fully understands" the fans' requests. In fact, Harada revealed that he has been contemplating this idea for quite some time and has already taken action to make it a reality.
"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," Harada shared on X/Twitter. He speculated that the lack of response might be due to the nature of his project being centered 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 pointed out that receiving "no response" is a rare occurrence. 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 revisiting and exploring this idea further.
It appears that fans might not see Kazuya and Jin battling it out under the iconic yellow glow of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody or an in-universe 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 rolling out a new update with Patch 2.01, following the confirmation of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. Back in April, Harada addressed fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, assuring that the tuning team is working tirelessly to incorporate feedback and enhance future updates.
