Tekken 8’s final launch roster has been confirmed, and it includes a new fighter named Reina. She’s one of three brand-new fighters joining the game, and she might just be another illegitimate child of the series’ notorious dad, Heihachi Mishima. Reina’s role in the game’s story seems to be significant, as she is linked to Heihachi and has a mysterious background.
Officially, Reina’s history and her connections to other Tekken characters are meant to be a mystery. All we know is that she’s a student at Mishima Polytechnical School, which was founded by Heihachi and is secretly a training ground for the Tekken Force, a private corporate army led by Heihachi. However, in her debut trailer, it’s clear that Reina has a strong interest in fighting Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Could it be that she’s trying to fill the power vacuum at the Mishima Zaibatsu corporation following Heihachi’s death in Tekken 7? There are speculations, but nothing is certain.
According to supposedly leaked details from previous Tekken 8 beta tests, Reina is said to be Heihachi’s daughter. It’s known that Heihachi had many illegitimate children after the death of his wife, Kazumi. This means there’s a lot of Mishima DNA out there.
What’s evident is that Reina fights much like Heihachi himself, using a combination of Mishima-style fighting karate and taido martial arts for her moveset. The director of Tekken 8, Kohei Ikeda, has mentioned that her dual styles are part of her overall theme of duality, which is reflected in her visual design.
Reina is the 32nd confirmed character for Tekken 8’s launch roster, and she’s one of three brand-new fighters, alongside Peruvian “Coffee Queen” Azucena and Frenchman Victor Chevalier, who will be voiced by Vincent Cassel (Westworld, Jason Bourne).
The full list of Tekken 8 fighters confirmed to appear when the game launches on Jan. 26, 2024, includes Alisa Bosconovitch, Asuka Kazama, Azucena Castillo, Bryan Fury, Claudio Serafino, Devil Jin, Feng Wei, Hwoarang, Jack-8, Jin Kazama, Jun Kazama, Kazuya Mishima, King, Kuma, Lars Alexandersson, Lee Chaolan, Leo Kliesen, Leroy Smith, Lili de Rochefort, Ling Xiaoyu, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, Panda, Paul Phoenix, Raven, Reina, Sergei Dragunov, Shaheen, Steve Fox, Victor Chevalier, Yoshimitsu, and Zafina.