Bandai Namco is incorporating virtual reality in "Tekken 7" but not in the way fans would expect. When the concept was first announced, the idea of brawling in first-person perspective came to the mind of fans, which they did not love one bit.
Senior game designer Michael Murray is well aware of that, which is why he clarified that the game studio will integrate the technology to the fighting game in a way that it wouldn't change the gameplay that fans loved about the title.
"I think that's where the misconception comes in," he told Wired, pertaining to the idea that gamers will play "Tekken 7" in first person. "We're not going to do that. It doesn't lend itself to a fighting game well, so we want to find something that isn't that but still pleases fans," Murray added.
The game designer recognized that many people believe that the main game will be given the full Virtual Reality treatment. But Murray made clear that their goal was to make the fighting game better and they think doing that isn't going to contribute to that objective.
Murray was coy about their real plans about merging Virtual Reality with "Tekken 7." However, he emphasized that whatever the upgrades they are going to do that is related to this endeavor, the characters of the game will be involved heavily.
As for what gamers can expect of the Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game, Murray admitted that they are still trying to figure out what to do, although he mentioned that they have been mulling over incorporating arcade to console matchmaking. He also noted that Bandai Namco will also focus on enriching the story of the game.
"The only thing we have been saying is that we realize that story is a really important thing for Tekken fans, and that's why we're returning to the canon story this time. So something that can really showcase that gameplay-wise is something we're really looking into," Murray explained.
"Tekken 7" heads to the new-gen consoles sometime next year.
