'Pokkén Tournament' news: Select Dave & Buster's arcades to get test runs

Pokken Tournament website

The cross-over title "Pokkén Tournament," a Tekken-style fighting game with fighters taken from the hugely-popular Pokémon universe, has been released recently for Japanese arcades, and fans across the world are asking publisher Bandai Namco on when the title will make it out of Japan. However, although Bandai Namco talked about possible releases in North America and Europe, the company has not confirmed any western release dates, which made observers think that playing "Pokkén Tournament" in arcades, let alone consoles, will just remain a possibility.

There's good news, though, at least for the gamers in North America as it seems "Pokkén Tournament" will make it to the United States. According to reports that surfaced recently, Bandai Namco is in serious talks with American restaurant and business chain company Dave & Buster's for them to test out the title in arcades outside of Japanese shores.

In an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, Kevin Bachus, Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Game Strategy at Dave and Buster's, said that they will indeed be testing "Pokkén Tournament" soon.

Bachus said, "Yes. We will be testing Pokken. Candidly both NAMCO and I are more optimistic about that title and our typical guests than Tekken." 

When asked when and where testing will take place, the Dave & Buster's representative said that the company is still finalizing the locations. However, it seems that one key location that Bachus mentioned is Chicago and nearby areas.

"Honestly, I haven't even started to think about it," he stated. "NAMCO often likes to test close to their US offices in Chicago but we usually try to talk them into letting us test in a wider variety of locations.

"Pokkén Tournament" is a fighting game, taking a leaf off "Tekken's" gameplay, but instead of characters with set abilities and martial arts skills, the game pits one Pokémon against another.