Tekken 8's Anna Williams redesign sparks mixed reactions. While many fans applaud the updated look, others express strong disapproval, drawing comparisons to Santa Claus due to her coat.

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada addressed the criticism, stating that while the majority welcomes the change, those who prefer the older design can still access previous iterations of the character. He further criticized the vocal minority for their aggressive and unproductive feedback, emphasizing the disrespect shown towards fans who appreciate the new design. He pointed out the inconsistency of their complaints, highlighting how any potential reversion would likely be met with further criticism.

A Reddit thread discussing the new outfit reveals a spectrum of opinions. Some players express satisfaction with the edgier, more vengeful aesthetic, praising aspects like the hair and leotard. However, the coat's resemblance to Santa Claus remains a significant point of contention, with many suggesting it detracts from the overall design. Other criticisms include the perceived younger appearance and the lack of a dominatrix vibe compared to her Tekken 7 iteration. Some even criticize the overall aesthetic of Tekken 8 costumes as overly cluttered.

Despite the negative feedback, the game's sales are strong, surpassing Tekken 7's sales milestone in a significantly shorter timeframe. IGN's review awarded Tekken 8 a 9/10, praising its refined fighting mechanics, diverse offline modes, new characters, improved online experience, and overall evolution of the franchise.

Harada also dismissed a comment criticizing the lack of older game re-releases with updated netcode, labeling the response as pointless and muting the commenter.

The discussion highlights the inherent challenges game developers face in balancing player expectations and creative vision, particularly when it comes to established character redesigns. The success of Tekken 8, however, suggests that the overall reception to the game, despite the controversy surrounding Anna's new look, remains largely positive.