Bob, the master of speed and weight, is back. People usually expect large-framed characters to be "tough, but slow," but Bob delivers a fast-paced in-fighting style alongside heavy impact. Following Kunimitsu, his return marks another legacy character coming back, drawing high expectations from fans. Thanks to Bandai Namco providing an early preview opportunity prior to Bob's release, we were able to test him out firsthand.

From Running a Chain to Debuting as an Investigator

Bob's motive for entering this tournament also leaves a distinctly "Bob-like" impression. After being injured while handling an incident, he spent time recuperating in a hospital. Disliking the hospital food, he developed his own hamburger recipe. The recipe went on to become a massive business success, launching a chain, while his follow-up menu item, "Bob's Onigiri," became a hit that sparked a craze across the United States.

While stably running his chain, G Corporation forces led by Kazuya take control of New York. Bob provides hamburgers and onigiri to the people, earning praise as the "Savior of Eating". Furthermore, he is offered a role as an investigator for the District Attorney's Office to help Manhattan in crisis, setting out to hunt down Mishima Kazuya, the mastermind behind the chaos, and bring him to justice.

Moves as Exhilarating as His Story!

As the development team described Bob as an "unbelievably agile and acrobatic Karate martial artist despite his super-heavyweight frame," playing Bob during the hands-on preview felt pure exhilaration. Combining the heavy impact of his size with sheer speed, his moves enabled a highly aggressive playstyle.

Playing Bob continuously gave the impression that, rather than adding new gimmicks, the focus was on returning to the core of fighting games and Tekken itself. While some legacy characters returned with stack-based mechanics, Bob underwent no such changes. In a sense, they delivered the classic return fans wanted.

His Rage Art is also quite simple while capturing Bob's trademark humor. While some Rage Arts faced criticism for being overly flashy and exaggerated, Bob's focuses on heavy hits and a clean finisher.

So, When Can You Play This Charismatic Fighter?

Bob will be unlocked early for Season Pass owners on Thursday, August 20 (KST). Afterward, individual sales will begin on Tuesday, August 25 (KST), making him playable for anyone who owns the Bob character DLC. Following Bob, another classic character, "Roger Jr.," is slated for release in the fall, while a Yujiro Hanma collaboration is teased for the winter.

Q&A Regarding Bob

His shift from "Savior of Eating" to investigator is surprising, but having his rival/interaction character change from Bryan to Kazuya was also unexpected. How did you come to make this choice?

“In this title, while retaining Bob's trademark humor, we wanted to depict his innate, strong sense of justice in greater detail. So, through the success of his burger restaurant, his food bank activities, and his new position as an investigator for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, we wanted to show him using his strength and success for the good of others. You'll be able to feel Bob's heroic side through the special cinematic interactions when facing Kazuya.

Since some of his moves change properties with Just Frame inputs, he seems like a character meant for intermediate players or above. What is he actually like?

“Bob is not designed for a specific player tier; he was developed so players of various skill levels can enjoy him and discover deeper layers as they get accustomed to him. His moveset provides a solid foundation for Tekken's fundamental "rock-paper-scissors mind games," allowing even simple core moves to mount a powerful offense. As players improve, they can master the essence of Tekken and game management through him. Beginners starting with Tekken 8 as well as veteran players can select moves tailored to their own playstyle. In Tekken 8 specifically, transitioning into "Spinner Ball" has become easier, allowing it to be used more actively in neutral and combos, so even players unfamiliar with Bob can easily enjoy his aggressively unique gameplay.

Compared to Bob in Tekken 7, how has his gameplay strategy changed?

“While maintaining Bob's core identity of "speed and weight" and his signature moves, we reviewed move performance and animations so players can enjoy a more dynamic and aggressive battle in Tekken 8. In particular, "Spinner Ball" has been revamped to better serve neutral play and combos, with new move integrations and ties to the Heat System added as well. We adjusted his moves so players can enjoy Bob's distinct fun alongside Tekken 8's unique tempo and offensive flow. Veteran players will find joy in discovering new tactics and combos based on differences from previous titles.

Within Bob's battle style that balances speed and weight, what was the main focus of expression?

“ Nimble movement backed by the weight and power of his large frame is Bob's signature charm. In Tekken 8 as well, his performance is not restricted by his size alone, and he is designed so players can experience Bob's trademark responsive feel.

Could you tell us if there will also be balance adjustments for existing characters alongside Bob's addition?

“ While it is difficult to share a specific schedule for balance adjustments at this time, we conduct tests assuming various scenarios during development. However, after release, players often discover new tactics and applications that exceed developer expectations. We comprehensively review these playstyles, match data, and feedback to continuously monitor balance. Please submit any opinions or reports directly to the dev team via the TEKKEN DEV FEEDBACK PORTAL.

Which moves would you recommend using primarily when playing Bob?

“ Bob is an all-rounder with a moveset tailored for Tekken's fundamental "rock-paper-scissors mind games." While he has a weakness in that guaranteed punishers require high execution, he possesses plenty of options to respond, such as "Giga Jacker," a fast Power Crush, or his new parry "Perfect Body." Furthermore, core moves branching from United Step such as "Langue Washer" and "Cutting Coppa" are powerful, allowing players to execute tactics that pressure opponents, restrict their movement, and lead into massive damage. He has many useful tools ranging from close-up to mid-range combat.

In this game, Bob appears in a more refined suit outfit. Could you explain what details and efforts went into the suit design—such as tailoring or accessories—to showcase Bob's unique personality?

“ While adopting a formal suit style, we embedded Bob's personality throughout the design, such as trouser suspenders and a tie pattern reminiscent of the American flag. Intricate details were carefully designed, down to the text "Robert Richards" engraved on the sole of his leather shoes. These elements can be observed through Photo Mode and other features.

Please say a word to Korean players who are looking forward to Bob.

“ Bob's unique synergy of "heavy weight and speed" aligns exceptionally well with Tekken 8's aggressive battle system, allowing us to bring out new charm. We encourage players returning to Bob after a long time, as well as those trying him for the first time in Tekken 8, to give him a spin. Moreover, while Bob was a fighter protecting citizens in Tekken 7, he has made great progress in terms of story in this entry—successfully running a burger shop chain and being appointed as an investigator for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Players will be able to see an evolved Bob not only in combat, but across cutscenes and costumes as well.