Tekken 8 is getting Kunimitsu on May 28

Bandai Namco has released a new gameplay trailer for Tekken 8. Kunimitsu, a Season 3 DLC character, will join the roster in early access on May 27 for Season 3 Character Pass owners, with a wider release on June 1.

More news from Evo in Japan! Kunimitsu, a character who excels at tricky maneuvers and agile attacks, continues the lineage of the original Kunimitsu and Kunimitsu II.

Here is the official reveal trailer for Lidia Sobieska in Tekken 8:

I have been watching the announcements roll in all weekend, and this one caught my attention immediately. The tournament in Tokyo is always a major platform for fighting game developers to show their upcoming roadmaps.

Longtime players know the Kunimitsu name carries some heavy history. The original character debuted in the very first Tekken game back in 1994 as a former member of Yoshimitsu's Manji Clan. Her daughter later took up the mantle as a late addition to Tekken 7. Now, the title continues with a female successor. The fox mask and the signature short blades remain intact, and the character continues the established lineage. The developers are clearly interested in pushing the timeline forward rather than just reviving the exact same fighters.

The combat style updates familiar moves for the new engine. The aggressive rushdown tactics are still there. The teleportation mix-ups and spinning dagger strikes look faster than they did in the previous game. Tekken 8 relies heavily on the Heat system to force engagements. An agile character with strong mobility tools fits perfectly into that aggressive meta. The new Heat Smash attacks give her even more ways to close the distance from across the screen.

I still have nightmares about those unblockables

Playing against a good Kunimitsu has always been an exercise in patience. You spend half the match guessing if the next attack is a low sweep or a mid-air projectile. I spent an embarrassing amount of time in Tekken 7 falling for the exact same backflip trap, and it looks like I will be doing that again very soon. The new iteration keeps the core annoyance factor high. That is exactly what you want from a ninja character built around deception.

The character's visual design also leans into a more modern streetwear aesthetic. The outfit blends traditional shinobi gear with a school uniform jacket. It is a sharp look.

Lidia Sobieska was the second downloadable fighter released for the game, following Eddy Gordo earlier this year. Bandai Namco still has two more unannounced characters planned for the first season of content.