How Namco Expands Tekken Beyond Fighting Games

Tekken is one of the greatest fighting game franchises in the world, but Bandai Namco never limited it to a genre. Tekken developed as a more comprehensive entertainment franchise over time, expanding the frontiers of fighting games. From arcade innovation to esports, merchandising, and even casino games, Namco was able to turn Tekken into a multimedia phenomenon. So, how did the expansion happen? Let's find out.

Tekken's Legacy in Arcades and Beyond

Tekken's origins are rooted in the arcades, where it first saw release in 1994. In contrast to slot games of the era, Tekken was one of the earliest fighting games to make use of full 3D models for its characters, further advancing the genre. While home consoles became more popular, Namco still made Tekken-specific games for the arcades, including Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Unlimited, in efforts to keep the franchise alive in arcade culture.

Aside from the traditional arcade machines, Namco has also forayed into new gaming systems with Tekken VR and mobile versions. These enable the potential for the user to be put in a position where they can experience the franchise in a different way, thereby introducing Tekken to the casuals and hardcore.

Tekken's Esports Growth

Esports has played a major role in Tekken's growth. The Tekken World Tour (TWT), launched in 2017, has evolved into a premier competitive circuit, featuring events like EVO and the TWT Finals. In 2023, the total prize pool for Tekken tournaments exceeded $200,000, proving its significance in the esports world. Namco has also joined the bandwagon of live streaming and content creation by partnering with web media like Twitch and YouTube to appeal to new audiences. The action keeps the game real while introducing the game to new players who were not aware of earlier Tekken games.

Merchandise and Brand Partnerships

Tekken has expanded beyond gaming through merchandising and licensing deals. From Bandai's SH Figuarts action figures of Kazuya and Jin to limited-edition Tekken apparel by Uniqlo, the franchise has cemented its place in pop culture. Additionally, characters like Eliza have added unique flair to the series. Such brands include those of:

Action figures.
Clothing lines.
Limited edition sneakers.

Besides that, Namco also partnered with other game developers in bringing Tekken characters into crossover titles. Featuring Street Fighter's Akuma and Fatal Fury's Geese Howard in Tekken 7 is one of the ways Namco is more than willing to mash its universe together with other intellectual properties and blur the line away from the old-school core fanbase of Tekken.

Tekken's Diversification into Casino Games

One of the biggest surprises that Tekken has managed to accomplish is in how it has dipped its toes into casino game culture. While traditional fighting game fans compete in Tekken tournaments, others engage with the franchise in unexpected ways.

Tekken has even expanded into casino gaming, with officially licensed slot games featuring iconic characters. Online platforms now offer Tekken-themed gambling experiences, allowing fans to engage with the franchise in new ways.

With more and more casinos opening up on the web, titles like Slot Tekken are getting more gamers and fans of fighting games, who are gamblers themselves. Combining both, Namco gets access to new fanbases of players as well as ways for existing enthusiasts to experience the series. Placing the original characters and themes from the former games within the slots ensures consistency of the experience with the franchise's legacy.