Veteran Tekken 8 fighter Anna Williams is making a comeback, and while her new look has been generally well-received, it has sparked some controversy among fans. Some have even gone so far as to liken her redesign to that of Santa Claus.

When a fan reached out to Tekken's game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada, requesting a return to Anna's classic design, Harada responded firmly. He stated, "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you." He emphasized that while 98% of the fans embraced the new design, there would always be dissenters. Harada expressed understanding for those whose personal tastes were not met but pointed out that previous games with the old design are still accessible. He also criticized the fan for claiming to speak for all Anna fans and for their unconstructive feedback, which included threats to quit the game and demands to revert the new design.

Harada's response to another commenter who criticized the lack of rereleases with modern netcode was equally sharp, calling the comment "pointless" and muting the individual.

Despite the criticism, the majority of fans have reacted positively to Anna's new design, though some have expressed concerns about certain elements of her outfit. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution praised the new design for fitting their vision of a vengeful Anna. They noted that while the hair and coat might not appeal to everyone, the leotard, tights, boots, and gloves were well-received. Other fans like troonpins and Cheap_Ad4756 had mixed feelings, with some appreciating parts of the outfit but feeling it resembled Santa Claus too closely. Spiralqq criticized the design as overdone and lacking focus, suggesting it would be better without the coat.

The discussion around Anna's new look has been active on platforms like Reddit, with users sharing their thoughts and opinions on the changes.

Tekken 8 has achieved impressive sales, reaching 3 million copies sold within a year of its release, outpacing Tekken 7, which took a decade to sell 12 million copies. In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game was praised for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, engaging offline modes, new characters, robust training tools, and enhanced online experience, earning a score of 9/10. The review highlighted how Tekken 8 honors its legacy while pushing the franchise forward, cementing its place as a standout title in the series.