For some time now, Tekken enthusiasts have been vocal about their desire to see a Waffle House stage in the game. Not in real life, of course, but within the virtual world of Tekken 8. While the game's director, Katsuhiro Harada, has shown interest in the idea, Waffle House has yet to bite.
On X/Twitter, Harada addressed fans' ongoing requests for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. The demand has been significant, fueled further by Harada's own curiosity and willingness to explore the concept.
Harada expressed that he "fully understands" the fans' wishes. He has been contemplating the idea for some time and has even taken steps to reach out to Waffle House. "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.'"
"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," said Harada 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 pointed out that a "no response" situation is quite rare. 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 reevaluating and exploring the idea again.
It appears that Kazuya and Jin won't be hashing out their family feud under the glow of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. However, a parody or an in-universe equivalent might still be possible. Harada floated the idea of "Hustle House" in a separate post, which could serve as a creative workaround.
Meanwhile, Tekken 8 is gearing up for a new update with Patch 2.01, following the announcement of Fahkumram's addition to the roster. Back in April, Harada responded to fan concerns about Tekken 8's Season 2, assuring that the tuning team is working diligently to incorporate player feedback and enhance the game's future updates.
