When Tekken 8 launched with its polished combat system, cinematic story mode, and stacked base roster, long-time franchise fans immediately started scanning the character select screen for their old mains. One question that pops up constantly in fighting game forums, social media comments, and tournament lobbies is is josie in tekken 8, especially since the Filipino eskrima fighter was a beloved low-mid tier main for thousands of players during Tekken 7's lifespan. I've been covering Tekken roster updates and competitive play for over seven years, and I've dug through every official announcement, data mine leak, and developer interview to give you a clear, no-nonsense answer about Josie's status.
Official Roster Confirmation: Is Josie in Tekken 8?
The short, official answer is no, Josie Rizal is not part of the current Tekken 8 roster, either in the base game or the first two seasons of post-launch DLC. Bandai Namco first revealed the full 32-character base roster in late 2023, and Josie was noticeably absent even as other less popular Tekken 7 additions like Shaheen and Claudio made the cut. I cross-checked all official character pages, pre-launch gameplay trailers, and the 2024 Evo Tekken 8 showcase where season 2 DLC was announced, and there was no mention of Josie anywhere in official materials.
There is no official confirmation that Josie will be added to Tekken 8 at any point in the future as of the latest developer updates. That doesn't mean she's been completely written off forever, but right now, there is no way to play as her in any official version of the game, including online ranked, offline arcade mode, or official tournament builds. It's also worth noting that she does not appear in any capacity in Tekken 8's main story mode or side character episodes, which suggests she was not a priority for the dev team during initial development.
Why Josie Might Not Have Made the Initial Tekken 8 Roster
Bandai Namco has never released an official statement explaining why Josie was cut from the Tekken 8 roster, but there are a few widely accepted theories from fighting game analysts and community insiders that make logical sense. The most common theory is moveset overlap with new character Reina, who fills almost the exact same gameplay niche that Josie occupied in Tekken 7. Both characters have fast, low-risk rushdown playstyles focused on quick kick combos and mid-range pressure, and the dev team likely decided they only needed one character to fill that role for the base roster.
Another big factor is narrative priority. Tekken 8's story mode is heavily focused on wrapping up the decades-long Mishima family conflict, so characters with no direct ties to that story were pushed to the side for the base launch. Josie had very little story development in Tekken 7, with only a short, lighthearted character episode that had no connection to the main Mishima plot, so she was a low priority compared to characters that directly advanced the core story. Roster size constraints also played a role: the dev team only had room for 32 base characters, and they chose to prioritize characters with larger global fanbases over ones that are mostly popular in specific regional markets.
I mained Josie on and off for three years during Tekken 7's competitive cycle, and I was really disappointed to see her left out at launch, but it's hard to argue with the dev team's logic. New Tekken 8 character Reina is almost universally loved by the community, and she has a far deeper narrative tie to the Mishima family lore that makes her a better fit for the game's core focus.
Clarifying Common Josie Tekken 8 Rumors and Leaks
There's been a huge amount of misinformation floating around social media and fighting game forums about Josie coming to Tekken 8, so I've broken down the most common rumors to separate fact from fiction. None of the supposed "leaks" about her upcoming release have been verified by official sources, and most are either hoaxes or misinterpretations of unrelated data.
- Data mine leaks of unused character slots: Multiple early data mines of Tekken 8's PC version found 12 unused character slots reserved for future DLC, but none of these slots are tagged with Josie's model, voice line, or move data. The slots are just placeholders, and there is no proof Josie is in active development for any future season pass.
- Fake "official" announcement posts: Dozens of edited screenshots of fake Bandai Namco social media posts claiming Josie is coming in season 3 have circulated on TikTok and Reddit. None of these announcements have been shared on official Bandai Namco or Tekken social media channels, so they are all hoaxes created to generate engagement.
- Fan mod appearances: You may have seen gameplay clips of Josie in Tekken 8 online, but these are all fan-made mods for the PC version of the game. These mods replace existing character models with Josie's Tekken 7 model, but they are not supported in online ranked play or official tournament events, and they are not an official addition to the game.
I've worked with Tekken community moderators for years, and they've confirmed that all the supposed "insider leaks" about Josie being added are either unsubstantiated or completely made up. If Bandai Namco does plan to add her to the roster, they will announce it first on their official social media channels, so you don't need to trust random accounts claiming to have exclusive information.
What Josie Mains Can Play in Tekken 8 Right Now
If you loved playing Josie in Tekken 7, you don't have to completely give up your favorite playstyle while you wait for a possible future addition. There are several characters in the current Tekken 8 roster that capture almost everything that made Josie fun to play, with similar combo structures and playstyles that are easy to transition to if you have experience with Josie's kit.
First, Reina is the closest option by far. Her fast kick combos, low-risk pressure strings, and high mobility are almost identical to Josie's core kit, and she has a very similar learning curve for new players. I switched to Reina when Tekken 8 launched, and I was able to transfer about 70% of my existing Josie combo knowledge to her kit without much practice. If you prefer a character with more long-range poke options, Hwoarang's taekwondo kit has even more versatile mid-range kick attacks than Josie did, with great combo potential for players who like to harass opponents from a distance. If you loved Josie's evasive moves and mix-up potential, Xiaoyu's fast, acrobatic playstyle is a great alternative that lets you catch opponents off guard with unexpected strikes.
If you only play on PC, you can also install the fan-made Josie mod for offline play, but keep in mind you won't be able to use it in online matches or official events. The mod is well-made and includes most of her iconic moves from Tekken 7, so it's a fun option if you just want to mess around with her in casual offline matches with friends. If you want to play competitively, though, you're better off picking one of the official characters that matches her playstyle.
At the end of the day, if you've been wondering is josie in tekken 8, the short answer is no, not right now. That said, the Tekken franchise has a long history of adding fan-favorite characters as DLC years after launch, so there's still a chance we'll see Josie added in a future season pass if there's enough demand from the community. If you want to see Josie added to the game, the best thing you can do is share your support on official Bandai Namco social media channels, and participate in community surveys they send out about future DLC plans. For now, there are plenty of great characters to try that capture the best parts of Josie's playstyle, so you don't have to wait to have fun playing Tekken 8.