During yesterday’s EVO livestream in Las Vegas, Bandai Namco confirmed that Tekken 8 is expanding its roster with two returning fighters: fan-favorite Bob and the genetically engineered marsupial, Roger Jr. The reveal arrived via a trailer that leans heavily into a decade-old viral sensation, though the choice of reference carries a complicated history for the franchise.
The trailer shows a scene mirroring the infamous 2016 viral video of an Australian man punching a kangaroo to rescue his dog. In the Tekken 8 version, the roles are filled by Leroy and his American Bully, Sugar. While the nod to the meme is clear, it is difficult to ignore the context: that same viral video was cited by former Tekken director and executive producer Katsuhiro Harada in 2017 as the reason Roger Jr. was omitted from Tekken 7.
The History of the "Kangaroo Problem"
In a 2017 interview with VG247, Harada explained that the viral video created a public relations challenge for the studio. He noted that the footage of a man punching a kangaroo in the face resulted in significant online discourse. At the time, Harada expressed concern that “animal activists—even though they probably wouldn’t play our game—would still hear about that, about a kangaroo in our game being punched, and would complain about it.”
Consequently, both Roger and his son, Roger Jr., were left out of the Tekken 7 roster entirely. The character has been absent from a playable role in the franchise for nearly 20 years, making his upcoming return in Tekken 8 a significant moment for long-time fans who cheered loudly at the EVO reveal.
Clarifying the Controversy
Given that the new trailer directly references the very video that supposedly led to the character's exile, questions have arisen regarding why the studio has changed its stance. Some observers have pointed to the recent departure of key leadership, including Harada and Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda, as a potential turning point for the series' creative direction.
However, Harada has since pushed back on the idea that the character was banned due to actual organized protest. In a post on X, he explained that his original 2017 comments were “twisted a bit during translation into English.” He clarified that he never stated the team had received official complaints or that they were barred from including the kangaroo. According to Harada, he had only brought up the video as an off-the-cuff anecdote while speaking with an Australian interviewer, and the idea of an activist-led boycott became an internet-fueled myth over the following years.
With the character now officially confirmed for Season 3, the debate surrounding his absence appears to be settled, allowing the marsupial to return to the Tekken arena.