Tekken 8 launched off the again of Tekken 7 having one in every of gaming’s very unlikely comebacks and, although Season 1 had its justifiable share of points, followers of the sequence have been optimistic in regards to the future and general route of the sequence.
Phi ‘PhiDX’ Lam noticed a chance on this and constructed a profession for himself off the again of Tekken 8’s launch. He’s the Tekken man at this level and used the budding profession he had in Tekken 7 to actually explode as a creator when 8 was launched. Now, he’s arguably probably the most trusted voice in the neighborhood.
Nonetheless, proper as Phi’s profession was hitting new highs, Season 2 dropped. This patch was so notoriously dangerous that it’d be no exaggeration to name it one of many worst patches in online game historical past, not less than when it comes to group reception. Over 1500 adjustments, and nearly all of them have been misses within the eyes of Tekken professionals and informal gamers alike.
For Phi, a person who simply constructed a secure profession round Tekken 8, this downturn got here on the absolute worst time.
Even supposing Season 2 has considerably improved since its April 1, 2025 launch, T8 now has a fame that shall be very laborious to interrupt. Profitable again the gamers that have been misplaced to start out Season 2 is a tall order, even when the professional scene, in isolation, is flourishing.
I sat down with PhiDX for an prolonged interview to speak by the expertise of attempting to make a residing as a Tekken creator throughout one of many darkest chapters within the sequence’ 30 yr historical past. Is Tekken 8 value saving, or ought to they only transfer on and check out beginning with a clear slate?
PhiDX opened as much as Esports.internet about how Tekken 8’s downfall affected him.
How Tekken 8’s Struggles Impacted PhiDX’s Content material
Stroll me by what it’s like attempting to be a Tekken creator whereas the builders of the sport are burning their goodwill with the group.
What a query, that’s a fireplace opener. To talk usually, there are a variety of routes totally different creators can take, and I believe I can solely actually communicate to mine. There have been individuals who have been undoubtedly drama farming and stuff like that, and I knew I didn’t need to try this.
However, I keep in mind on the time that Season 2 dropped, there was a vocal minority of gamers who have been calling me a shill for the corporate and issues like that. They have been like, “That is your fault, if solely you have been extra essential, yada yada yada.” So… my headspace on the time was that I’ve usually been constructive in regards to the recreation simply to encourage extra folks to attempt it.
I don’t like the thought of constructing a essential video, after which someone who’s having enjoyable begins to have much less enjoyable, it didn’t sit properly with me. Usually, that’s why I lean in direction of extra constructive content material, speaking in regards to the recreation, speaking about issues I like.
As soon as the patch dropped, I knew the shill claims have been form of nonsensical, however a part of me was form of like, ‘Do I should be extra essential? Do I must make it recognized that I disagree?’ That was one in every of my first issues. It’s genuine to me to be essential on this scenario, however the trade-off is it can have an effect on folks negatively who do benefit from the recreation. Is that value it? And I went in direction of sure, it’s what I wished to speak about.
At a sure level, although, it did get a bit of tiring. I don’t get pleasure from making detrimental content material, the sport wasn’t being patched in a manner that appeared like it might enhance, so I simply ended up importing much less, you recognize? There was simply much less pure ardour to work on it, there have been much less constructive issues to speak about. So, I simply streamed and didn’t speak in regards to the recreation. I rode that out for some time, did some event protection and the same old stuff.
I’m fortunate that, once I was commentating tournaments, I used to be capable of finding enjoyable moments. Like, there are nonetheless excessive degree gamers making reads and issues like that, making optimizations. That’s all the time going to be cool to me. I discovered constructive issues to speak about when there was a event taking place.
There was a turning level the place I went to Sandia Showdown, a event in Albuquerque. I used to be speaking to a bunch of event officers from Colorado and Albuquerque, and so they have been saying, ‘We used to have 30-40 folks at our locals, and final time it was like 9-12.’ That form of modified my mind chemistry.
I used to be tweaking about being a shill or being detrimental to individuals who wished to be taught the sport, however these individuals who really spend money and time each week or each month to host one thing that’s, like, an enormous time dedication – they have been having a worse expertise due to detrimental content material popping out. That actually shifted my perspective.
If I’m gonna say one thing, have one thing good to say. If I’m not gonna say one thing good, have or not it’s constructive or very clear that it’s constructive criticism.
So, like, have it clear that you’ve a purpose and one thing you need to be modified?
Yeah, like attempt to not even clickbait one thing detrimental. As a result of there are individuals who timeline scroll, see the clickbait, and use that as my message.
There are a variety of movies nonetheless on my second channel which can be unpublished and doubtless will keep unpublished simply due to that have I had. They’d have been good movies, they might get traction, and I do imagine within the message, however the packaging of it might have an effect on these people who find themselves really committing IRL time, cash, and energy. Their communities are being damaged aside. That didn’t sit properly with me to contribute to that.
The robust factor is you have been gaining a lot traction as a creator coming off of Season 1. There have been additionally the Tekken Sajam Slams, which did extraordinarily properly.
Oh my god, yeah.
And also you have been speaking with all these large creators who appeared to like working with you, and also you arrange all these connections to proceed doing that. You have been on the trail to creating a good greater profession for your self as a creator.
You’re speaking about feeling dangerous for event organizers, however, I imply the fact is that one thing occurred that’s out of your management that, in a variety of methods, tousled the profession path you have been most likely blueprinting for your self, you recognize?
Yeah… That’s true.
I believe it’s okay to mourn that a bit of bit. I imply, I’m certain that making detrimental content material was partially to alleviate a number of the stress of, ‘Holy sh*t, this recreation is my job, and the devs simply f**ked it up’.
Type of? I imply, once I consider – I’d need to scroll my time my channel to actually determine each video – however, off the highest of my head, the 2 essential movies I made have been, like… real cries for assist.
‘If the devs see this, please hear,’ was form of the vibe.
I hear that the devs see every thing, so I attempted to make it as clear as attainable [what the problems are]. So, I’d make a video like, ‘I’m taking a break from Tekken 8’ and I’d present a Steve string, and I’d present the rock paper scissors scenario and the way brain-dead it’s, issues like that. It was nonetheless inside the lens of, ‘Sure, my profession is closely tied to Tekken, however, even if you happen to take away that and simply speak in regards to the recreation, there are folks at each degree who’re sad with this.’ I attempted to talk extra to that.
As a result of there was a lot speak about me self-enriching on the expense of the “integrity of Tekken”, I used to be all the time acutely aware of that once I was making content material. I wished to maintain it as goal as attainable, even when, in my soul, I used to be feeling like, ‘Why is that this taking place?!’ I wished to maintain it clear-cut that that is actually in regards to the recreation. Even if you happen to’re not ready the place that is one thing that you may make a residing off of, it’s nonetheless a problem.
So, you don’t have to provide me a particular quantity, however I’m genuinely curious what share of people that selected to not purchase or selected to cease taking part in Tekken 8 due to Season 2 you suppose might precisely clarify what the problems have been. Past base degree stuff like Jack’s launch Make Some Noise string, Paul’s unblockable Deep Dive cancel, issues like that.
Oh, that’s a very good query. I actually don’t have a very good reply solely as a result of, particularly after the Season 2 drop, I made an intentional effort to be much less tapped in. With the intention to hold making content material that I get pleasure from and that I be ok with, I needed to learn much less about what folks suppose.
However, simply to be considerably on matter, a variety of feedback I get lately are simply, ‘Is Tekken fastened but?’ or like, ‘I finished taking part in right here, is it value taking part in now?’ It looks as if the individuals who have been turned off simply stopped taking part in and went to play one thing else.
Even Tekken 8 Season 1 had a variety of haters, however they clearly caught round to play anyway. I believe Season 2 did a factor the place folks simply straight up left, so the proportion of people that can clarify it might really be medium or excessive. Possibly I’m being optimistic about that, however I’ll say that their opinions are most likely tailor-made to launch Season 2.
Launch Jack-8 in Season 2 was so unbelievably busted that somebody managed to climb to a comparatively excessive rank whereas taking part in blindfolded.)
I did a podcast-style episode with Speedkicks on one of many more moderen patches six months in the past – which I suppose will not be even that latest – he stated he was having enjoyable with Tekken 8 once more in lengthy units, and it was due to the cumulative adjustments. Warmth burst, warmth smash being extra steppable, the HP improve, and just like the meta that got here out of that made it as a way to have extra Tekken interactions, relying on the matchup, and in lengthy units, issues like that. So, lots of people’s opinions I believe are formed by that Season 2 launch.
There are nonetheless so many points, however the basic recreation does really feel playable and extra enjoyable for the strongest rivals in an extended set format.
Is Tekken 8 value saving?
Sadly, it feels form of inconceivable to persuade anybody that hasn’t performed Tekken to attempt Tekken 8 as a result of they’re like, ‘Oh, doesn’t that recreation suck?’
Yeah, the cloud of darkness nonetheless lingers. That’s most likely the roughest half, the passing curiosity is way decrease.
I imply, do you suppose Tekken 8 is value attempting to save lots of with seasonal updates, or ought to they transfer on to a brand new recreation?
I believe it’s value attempting to save lots of, however solely as a result of I can’t see them investing the trouble and assets right into a model new recreation. The visible attraction is there, the character designs are there. There are a variety of issues that folks may take without any consideration within the growth of a brand new recreation. I believe they cooked from a online game package deal standpoint, and so they’ve executed a lot high quality of life stuff that Tekken has wanted for a very long time to make it a compelling, trendy preventing recreation package deal.
The one concern with the sport is what they’ve executed to soil the intermediate expertise and excessive degree expertise, which is the place your loyal fan base is. However if you happen to’re a vacationer proper now, it’s nonetheless a really compelling package deal. The most important draw back once more is, if you wish to go deeper, it’s ugly.
I actually suppose it’s value saving seasonally, however they must make some loopy – properly, loopy from the standpoint of what I understand to be Japanese growth tradition, I can solely speculate – however large adjustments like deleting strikes. Or perhaps doing one thing like Tekken 8: Final. It’d be like a functionally new season however packaged as a revision of the sport. Tekken has executed that earlier than, proper? Tekken 6: Bloodline Insurrection, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, Tekken Tag 2: Final, they’ve executed repackaging and a re-launch.
The query is, do they achieve this on the expense of their live-service imaginative and prescient? As a result of they wished to do a live-service Tekken. In the event that they’re courageous sufficient to delete strikes and do issues like that, then it might work. I believe that the route within the newest patches has been promising.
The gripe that we now have proper now could be they only aren’t patching the sport till the TWT Finals are over. Which sucks.
Possibly that is only a me factor, however it nearly appears like Tekken 8 is designed extra for the viewer expertise than taking part in it? I do know that sounds bizarre, but-
No, I might agree with that.
I believe combo size completely must be addressed.
Have you ever seen that clip the place somebody compares Tekken 6 combos to a Lidia combo?
The place they did like 4 combos in Tekken 6 within the time 1 Lidia combo took?
Yeah, yeah, that one. And I utterly agree. I believe it’s a problem once more at that intermediate degree. If you’re newer to the sport, seeing the impartial interactions and stuff like that could be a useful expertise. It genuinely will get in the best way of growth if you happen to’re simply sitting there. Not simply from a zoomer consideration span perspective, however even for me. I don’t even get to run the interplay again whereas I’m ready for a ten second cutscene to finish.
Do you suppose that the stigma round Tekken being a really laborious preventing recreation is overblown? Tekken has a really totally different issue curve to Avenue Fighter simply because it feels prefer it’s simpler to get into at a low degree.
I used to be re-watching my episode with Sajam discussing the disastrous Tekken 8 Season 2 patch, and that’s what he stated, too. He stated Tekken may need the most effective entry level at a complete newbie degree, and I nonetheless utterly agree with that.
I believe it’s intuitive to carry again to dam, I believe it’s intuitive to carry down again to dam low, I believe not leaping makes it form of clear that, ‘Okay, this can be a grounded recreation.’ That makes the principles round most issues really feel affordable. Avenue Fighter, if I block one thing within the air, it’s not my flip anymore. That wasn’t intuitive to me as a brand new Avenue Fighter participant, for instance.
The intermediate degree, the place you resolve to take a seat down and truly be taught stuff, is the place it will get insanely laborious. I don’t suppose that half is overblown, however I believe it gained’t have an effect on most individuals simply beginning. The disgrace of Tekken 8 – each Season 1 and Season 2, however particularly Season 2 – is that they made that intermediate expertise worse by altering a bunch of body knowledge.
I gave the analogy that, for the individuals who studied the sport it’s such as you deleted their save knowledge in, like, a JRPG, and made them begin over. All of the finding out and labbing and muscle reminiscence they constructed is now totally different.
Do you’re feeling like Bandai Namco ignoring the content material creator aspect of Tekken 8 has considerably contributed to declining curiosity?
Considerably contributed… I need to say no. I believe the numerous concern was the Season 2 replace, however it’s a misplaced alternative. If Season 2 had been a impartial patch the place some issues obtained higher issues, some issues obtained worse, issues ended up being about the identical frustration degree, it’d be totally different. Or if issues obtained extraordinarily higher? Marginally higher? Possibly even a bit of worse?
Truthfully, if it was every other end result aside from what occurred, I believe we might have stayed on the same monitor from Season 1.
There nonetheless would have been sufficient curiosity for the pure group occasions to return up, Sajam most likely would have hosted one other slam, and it might have nonetheless garnered curiosity. What we now have is the scenario the place there’s a darkish cloud of largely detrimental critiques that’s actively killing curiosity.
You have been speaking a bit of bit about how Bamco must do some loopy stuff to save lots of Tekken 8 Season 3. What’s on the prime of your listing for issues that may completely want to alter to ensure that them to win gamers again, or perhaps even attempt to discover new ones?
I lack a variety of I believe zoomed out expertise in preventing recreation life cycles to have a very good opinion on this. However I keep in mind, proper as Season 2 dropped, I used to be speaking to [Maximilian Dood]. He was saying curiosity will solely come again with a very good visitor character.
Tekken’s gonna be within the dumps even when the sport really does get higher, the overall notion gained’t change till a very good visitor character comes. Which is why I believe Max is so pro-Tifa outdoors of already having fun with FF7.
I imply, she would save the sport.
Yeah, I believe that’s the Season 4 stimpak, perhaps Season 5, it might breathe a variety of new curiosity into the sport. Sufficient time would have handed from the trauma of Season 2 that folks can be like, ‘Hey, Tekken is sick!’ I believe folks will neglect.
So, when confronted with the query of how we repair it, I see it as a two-pronged strategy: First is to repair the sport in order that rivals aren’t those complaining. When you may have your prime professionals complaining, it’s not a very good look, proper? If Arslan and Knee are having fun with the sport verbally on Twitter, I believe that that does so much.
Then, as soon as the trauma has healed, a spike in curiosity, whether or not it’s a visitor character, or… Yeah, I imply, it’d have to actually be a visitor character to only deliver folks again to attempt it. I believe that’s the way it will get saved.
Discovering optimism for the long run
I used to be initially going to ask if there’s any a part of you that regrets branding your self because the Tekken man and actually tying your self to this recreation. However, I watched the Brian F Trash Discuss episode and, from what you stated there about Tekken being the sport you’re most captivated with that you would make movies about ceaselessly.
I don’t suppose so. It might have been League or Smash, Melee particularly. My favourite content material creators are the one-game specialists like SypherPK, Clix, Reisshub for Fortnite, GothamChess for chess. I like that fashion of content material.
When it comes to branding, I acknowledge the weaknesses of doing that. However, in occasions the place I’ve executed extra selection issues or executed streamer collabs, I discover I’m… Like, I did a streamer collab Rust server, and I used to be uncomfortable the entire time. I didn’t know tips on how to socially work together with different streamers just about with no shared nerdy factor to go in on. So, the mode of being a Tekken man is good.
There is part of me that appears like branching out to being the preventing recreation man appears good, or like how Maximilian and Sajam occupy this area the place they’ve big mass attraction. They’ll speak about a number of video games, they will speak about basic video video games, and now have attraction there. However that doesn’t instantly leap out to me as a focal point. I believe it’s a market I might occupy and I believe I’ve the abilities to do it, however folks ask me like, “Are you watching the Recreation Awards?’, and I’m like, ‘Why do I care in regards to the Recreation Awards?’
It will take some adjustments internally for me to be higher at branching outdoors of Tekken. Avenue Fighter and 2XKO I’d say are shut. However, if I’m being sincere, it’s a mixture of simply usually sticking to what I’m snug with and actually having fun with it.
Is there any a part of you that’s scared that you just’ll in the future have to maneuver on from Tekken and do one thing else if you wish to proceed a full-time profession as a content material creator?
Oh, undoubtedly. However, to be clear, my concern is extra that Tekken creates a cap, or like a ceiling. I do know that’s going to exist, however I’m certain – properly, certain is a loopy phrase – I’ve robust confidence that 3 to five years down the highway, I might very a lot nonetheless be a Tekken creator and be okay.
What I’m extra involved about is that if there’s untapped potential by being simply the “Tekken man.” Which the reply, statistically, is sure. But in addition, is there a sustainable path to push past that and nonetheless have the identical satisfaction and day-to-day enjoyment that 2024 Tekken 8 gave me? That’s most likely the larger concern.
I wager I might keep on with Tekken, I might go into teaching to remain afloat. However there could also be ‘What if?’ questions that come up.
Now 2XKO is out, and content material in regards to the recreation is… I don’t suppose anyone’s 2XKO content material is doing properly, to be sincere. Do you suppose that there’s anyplace that Riot has actually missed the mark?
The most important factor is that there are simply not sufficient characters. And the laborious half is that Riot is doing a lot proper. They’re being methodical about their character design, they’re listening to the group, they’re patching at a semi-decent cadence, however I believe, backside line, there are simply not sufficient characters.
So, when folks watch content material, it’s the identical combos. It’s the identical setups. It’s the identical oki. It’s the identical voice strains. And, after they attempt the sport… In a tag fighter, except you actually like a personality, you’re not going to need to put up with all of the bullsh*t that the sport places you thru.
The shortage of characters in 2XKO actually is simply the largest concern. On one hand, I respect every thing Riot is doing that’s proper, particularly with the opposite preventing recreation growth firms that we take care of.
Riot is doing so many nice issues, however no matter went on behind the scenes that restricted the event of extra characters extra shortly might be what’s coming to chew them proper now.
If you have been asking, like, ‘Does Tekken simply must do a brand new model?’ I don’t know if Bandai Namco has that push and business savviness to drag that off. However I’m assured that, as soon as Riot has extra characters in 2XKO, they’ll do an enormous Field Jam Slam 3 or one thing like that with new streamers, new this, new that. I’m assured they’ll discover a manner, so it’s only a matter of time in my eyes.
To me, 2XKO might be gonna hit. There’s a lot there that’s good, it simply wants extra characters. I’m not too involved. Though, it was one other kick within the nuts that it wasn’t doing properly early.
Is there any large purpose you may have in your thoughts that you just’d actually prefer to sort out this yr, in Tekken or past?
Yeah, it’s been all, like, life routine stuff. So we simply had an enormous transfer in August and I had a again damage. So, I really feel like most of my fall and winter was simply recovering from these two large life occasions. However, since February, earlier than Season 2, I’ve wished to have the PhiDX content material machine be very clean and environment friendly. I wished to evaluate shorts frequently, evaluate unhinged montages frequently, document each day movies for my fundamental channel frequently.
And I believe the mixed mixture of 2024 burnout, Season 2 dropping, some private issues – nothing horrible, simply, you recognize, pivoting life circumstance. After which the transfer, then the again damage. This yr has been form of a wash. I’m not writing it off, however it’s extra like [2025] reaffirmed that I need good life routines and good programs in place, each in content material and my well being. This complete winter has form of been identical to a setup for that.
I’ve been attempting to eat the identical meals each day in order that I really feel higher, shed some pounds, and go to the fitness center. I’ve simply been specializing in a variety of these issues, and I’m hoping the circumstances in 2026 enhance such that I’ll be allowed to reap the advantages of implementing these higher programs in my life. But it surely has been form of a reactionary yr in some ways.
I imply, it nonetheless feels such as you did a variety of cool stuff this yr. You bought invited to a ton of preventing recreation occasions, did some Sajam Slams, had Deadly Fury of us attain out to you to preview characters. Give your self a bit of credit score.
That’s true, that’s true. And, you recognize, successful the 2XKO Slam was cool. I did very well on the TwitchCon San Diego Avenue Fighter Slam, I gained all my matches. They have been calling me, like, “Temu Punk”. Yeah, these little wins have been enjoyable for certain.
And, I believe that seeing how a variety of us Tekken grinders nonetheless haven’t utterly left the sport gave me a bit of little bit of hope within the sense that, like, although they’ve uprooted a lot of the unique recreation, that Tekken sauce that was cooked up many years in the past nonetheless has some endurance, you recognize?
My hope is that, no matter they do to the sport sooner or later, that will get to shine by. What will get me excited is simply that Tekken gameplay. And so long as that’s shining, I’ve the power to make content material. There’s nonetheless hope.
(This interview has been edited for brevity and readability.)
