Bandai Namco
Eddy Gordo will be Tekken 8’s first DLC Character, but fans have a problem with his hairstyle
Eddy Gordo’s new design in Tekken 8 has riled up the fans, as players criticize how ‘generic’ his haircut is due to its overuse in black video game characters from the last few years.
Eddy Gordo, the legendary Brazilian fighter and master of capoeira, will be back in Tekken 8. Of course, he is not included in the base game, instead being the first DLC character included in the Playable Character Year 1 Pass. However, his new design has been a source of criticism, since many point out that the new braided hairstyle has been used excessively on black male characters in many recent games.
Eddy Gordo’s new hairstyle in Tekken 8 raises controversy
Many users on X have pointed out that Eddy’s haircut in Tekken 8 (dreadlocks to one side with a fade-cut on the sides) has been so overused in recent works of fiction in what has become a reductive trope for men of color in the industry.
There have been many who have back the claim with the countless male black characters who have had this same hairstyle in recent video games and movies. Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Eric Killmonger in ‘Black Panther’, Sargon of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and even one of the additional costumes for Dee Jay in Street Fighter 6.
Some users compare this reductionism that can result in racism with another trend that existed in fiction at the beginning of the last decade with the overrepresentation of Asian women with colorful dyed hair, with examples like Knives Chau from ‘Scott Pilgrim’ and Mako Mori in ‘Pacific Rim’, amongst many others.
The origin of the trend of this hairstyle seems to take place in selfies from the French model Harry Samba showing this hairstyle, which he shared back in 2016. These images went viral on platforms like Tumblr and Twitter, and their echo resonates to this day.
Although Eddy Gordo’s standard design in Tekken 8 has received negative criticism for what is perceived as reductionist racism., It is expected that the character will come with additional costumes and that his accessories can also be edited at will., which includes hairstyle. These customization options have been a trademark for several installments of the Tekken saga, and they will be back in Tekken 8.
When will Tekken 8 be available and on what platforms?
Tekken 8 will be available on January 26, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game will have multiple editions both in physical and digital formats. The largest of them all is the Premium Collector’s Edition, whose main purchase incentive is a spectacular figure of Jin Kazama.