If you’re a fan of both Final Fantasy and the Tekken franchise, you probably spent launch day scrolling through the 32 base character slots looking for the sword-wielding Lucis prince. I mained Noctis for almost two years in Tekken 7, so I was right there with you refreshing roster lists and checking for hidden unlockables in the first week of release. We’re breaking down exactly what you need to know about whether Noctis is in Tekken 8, including past appearances, fan demand, and official updates that have dropped since the game’s launch.
Is Noctis in Tekken 8’s Base Game Roster?
Let’s get the most straightforward question out of the way first. Noctis does not appear in Tekken 8’s base game character roster, even as an unlockable hidden character. Every base character was revealed in pre-launch marketing materials, and players have fully data mined the game’s files with no trace of Noctis’s moveset, character model, or voice lines present in the initial launch build.
His absence came as a surprise to many fans, given how popular he was as a Tekken 7 DLC addition back in 2018. The cross-over collaboration between Bandai Namco and Square Enix was a massive hit, pulling in thousands of Final Fantasy players who had never picked up a Tekken game before. Many players assumed he’d be a lock for the base roster, given his high usage rates in both casual and competitive Tekken 7 play.
That said, his exclusion from the base game doesn’t mean he’ll never come to the title. Tekken has a long history of adding post-launch DLC characters, including cross-over guests from other franchises, so there’s still plenty of room for him to join later down the line.
Why Fans Are Pushing for Noctis to Return to Tekken 8
Noctis’s popularity in Tekken 7 wasn’t just a fluke tied to Final Fantasy hype. He filled a unique niche in the roster that no other character has been able to match, even in Tekken 8’s expanded lineup. The main reasons fans are begging for his return include:
- Unique, accessible moveset: His mix of close-quarters brawling, ranged sword attacks, and warp strikes make him approachable for new players while having enough combo depth for high-level competitive play. His warp mechanic also lets him close gaps faster than almost any other Tekken character, making him a fun pick for aggressive playstyles.
- Crossover appeal: He brought tens of thousands of Final Fantasy 15 fans into the Tekken franchise when he launched for Tekken 7, expanding the game’s player base significantly. Many of those fans stuck around to try other characters and engage with the broader fighting game community.
- Memorable customization options: Fans loved swapping out his outfits, weapons, and win poses to match different Final Fantasy lore beats, making him a fan favorite for casual custom lobbies and online content creation.
Plenty of competitive players have also spoken up about wanting him back, noting that his unique playstyle added more variety to tournament lineups. Tekken 8’s new Heat system would also open up tons of new combo possibilities for his moveset, which is an exciting thought for long-time players.
What Official Statements Say About Noctis Joining Tekken 8 Later
As of this writing, Bandai Namco has not confirmed Noctis as an upcoming Tekken 8 DLC character, but they haven’t ruled him out either. Series producer Katsuhiro Harada regularly responds to fan questions on his personal social media accounts, and he recently addressed requests for Noctis, saying that cross-over characters are always considered if fan demand is high enough and licensing terms work out.
Licensing agreements for cross-over characters typically expire after a set period, so Bandai Namco would need to renegotiate terms with Square Enix to bring him back. These negotiations can take months, and there’s always a chance the two companies can’t come to an agreement that makes financial sense for both sides.
We do know that Tekken 8’s first season of DLC will include four guest characters, with Eddy Gordo and Lidia Sobieska already announced as the first two. There has been no official confirmation of Noctis as one of the remaining two first-season DLC characters, but data miners have found unlabeled character slots in the game’s code that leave room for surprise additions. If he doesn’t make it into the first season, he could easily be added in a second or third season of content down the line.
What to Do If You Want to See Noctis Added to Tekken 8
If you’re a Noctis fan who wants to see him join the Tekken 8 roster, there are productive ways to share your feedback with the development team that are far more likely to get noticed than spam comments or angry posts. First, keep an eye out for official Bandai Namco surveys about future DLC content, and make your preference for Noctis clear in those responses. The team actively uses survey data to pick future characters, so your input will actually be counted.
You can also share your requests politely on Harada’s public social media accounts, but don’t spam or harass him or other members of the development team. Polite, targeted feedback is far more likely to get noticed than spam or aggressive requests, and the team is far more open to considering characters that fans ask for respectfully.
It’s also important to be wary of fake leaks claiming Noctis has been confirmed. Never trust unconfirmed leaks from anonymous sources, as most are designed to drive clicks rather than share accurate information. The only way you’ll know for sure he’s joining the roster is if Bandai Namco makes an official announcement, either in a trailer or a press release.
So to wrap up, the answer to is Noctis in Tekken 8 right now is no, but that could easily change in the next year as post-launch DLC rolls out. His high popularity, proven track record in Tekken 7, and consistent fan demand make him a very strong candidate for a future DLC slot, as long as licensing negotiations between Bandai Namco and Square Enix go smoothly. For now, you can always boot up Tekken 7 to play as him, or try out similar characters like Lars or Jin to get a feel for Tekken 8’s new mechanics while you wait for updates.