Tekken 8 Director Blasts Fan for Criticizing Anna Williams' New Look, Saying 'The Content of Your Argument Are Entirely Unconstructive, Utterly Pointless'

Tekken 8 veteran Anna Williams' redesigned look is generating mixed reactions. While many fans appreciate the update, some are less enthusiastic, drawing comparisons to Santa Claus due to her new coat.

Responding to criticism requesting a return to her previous design, Tekken's Katsuhiro Harada stated that while the majority welcomes the change, he won't remove the older designs readily available in previous games. He also criticized those who claim to represent all Anna fans, highlighting the contradictory nature of their complaints: threatening to quit if she isn't included, then complaining after her redesign, and finally criticizing any potential reversion as recycling. He deemed such feedback unconstructive and disrespectful to fans who are excited about the new design.

Harada further dismissed a comment linking the lack of older game re-releases with functional netcode to the Anna redesign controversy, labeling the reply as pointless.

Positive reactions to Anna's new design largely focus on the overall aesthetic, though some criticisms persist, mainly regarding her coat. One Redditor, AngryBreadRevolution, expressed satisfaction with the design, particularly praising the hair and the leotard, tights, boots, and gloves. Others, however, found the white fur trim on her red coat reminiscent of Santa Claus, diminishing their enjoyment of the overall look. Some also felt the new design made her appear younger and less like the dominatrix character she was in previous iterations. The coat's resemblance to Santa Claus was a recurring criticism, with some suggesting that removing it or altering the design would significantly improve the overall appearance. The sentiment that the outfit is "overdesigned" and lacks a focal point, mirroring other costumes in Tekken 8, was also expressed.

A Reddit thread, titled "What do you think of Anna's the new outfit coming from Tekken 7?" further highlights this diverse range of opinions.

Tekken 8's strong sales figures, surpassing 3 million copies sold within a year, contrast with Tekken 7's 10-year journey to reach 12 million sales. IGN's review of Tekken 8 awarded it a 9/10, praising its updated fighting system, offline modes, new characters, training tools, and improved online experience.