Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI, a key character from the latest entry in the franchise, has officially been announced as the first DLC guest character for Tekken 8! This news dropped just as Tekken 8 won Fighting Game of the Year for 2024, marking another big moment for Bandai Namco’s flagship fighter.

When Katsuhiro Harada teased that a Final Fantasy character would join the Tekken roster, fans were buzzing with speculation. The top picks? Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII and Baki Hanma. Both characters are widely requested as guest fighters because their hand-to-hand combat styles align perfectly with Tekken’s gameplay. As a brawler with a hand-to-hand combat style, Tifa seemed like a natural fit for Tekken’s gameplay. However, the reveal of Clive caught fans off guard. Much like Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, who appeared as a guest in Tekken 7, Clive is another weapon-based fighter, wielding his sword in a game primarily focused on fists and kicks. Clive Rosfield’s moveset, including summoning gods and demons, sets him apart from the rest of the Tekken roster.

The trailer for Clive’s reveal showcased him fighting on Phoenix’ Gate, a location from Final Fantasy XVI. In the footage, he’s seen battling both Kazuya and Jin Kazama, and it’s hard not to notice how out of place he looks, slashing the heck out of unarmed opponents while summoning gods and demons as part of his moveset. Clive even finishes Jin off by turning into Ifrit, adding a dramatic flair to his battle style. At least Yoshimitsu with his sword and Alisa with her chainsaw no longer feel quite so odd by comparison! That said, it’s worth pointing out that these three wouldn’t even be allowed in a real tournament due to their reliance on weapons.

Clive Rosfield  Tekken 8 Trailer.

This choice has stirred mixed reactions in the community. On one hand, Clive is a major character from one of the Final Fantasy franchise’s latest and most ambitious entries, making him a high-profile addition. On the other hand, his reliance on weaponry feels like a better fit for games like Soul Calibur or even Samurai Shodown, which emphasize combat styles that incorporate blades and other tools.

Noctis’ debut in Tekken 7 showed that weapon users could be integrated into the Tekken formula, but his inclusion was divisive, and Clive’s announcement seems to follow that pattern. It’ll be interesting to see how the developers balance his unique fighting style to keep the gameplay competitive while staying true to Tekken’s identity. Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up being a low-tier character, as no one managed to win a major tournament with Noctis in Tekken 7.

While Clive Rosfield may not have been the fan-favorite choice, his addition continues Tekken’s tradition of surprising guest characters. Whether you’re hyped about his reveal or still wishing for Tifa, one thing is clear: Tekken 8 is keeping us on our toes. The DLC promises to add more interest to a game that just earned the title of Fighting Game of the Year.