'Tekken 7' release date rumor: Game to launch on consoles in 2016

Tekken 7Bandai Namco

"Tekken 7" will be released for home consoles sometime in 2016, reports Spanish site Koi-Nya (via VG24/7). According to the report, this release window was announced by the local Bandai Namco marketing manager David Fraile during the Madrid Games Week.

However, VG24/7 also points out that this announcement should be taken with a grain of salt as European representatives are reportedly more "casual" about announcing release dates that may not have been confirmed by the developers or publishers.

It is also pointed out that even if the information was true, releasing in 2016 is a big window. "Tekken 7" might release as early as Spring 2015 or it might be pushed back all the way to the year's final quarter to boost sales during the holiday season.

According to Product-Reviews, this is the first type of confirmation regarding the game's console release in the West, although as stated, the information could be false or altered and fans should wait for an official announcement from Bandai Namco before keeping their hopes up.

As previously reported, the game is set to be ported from the arcades to the PS4 and Xbox One, although there are rumors of a PC port also in the works. It is speculated that development for the PC port might be delaying the release of the console versions of the game.

The game has been out on Japanese arcades for several months now, and an arcade version has been used in the US for some time now for official tournaments such as EVO 2015. However, Bandai Namco has not yet issued an official announcement for a Western release.

"Tekken 7" currently has a roster of 27 characters comprised of old characters from the franchise and several newcomers such as Josie Rizal, Shaheen, and Heihachi Mishima's wife Kazumi Mishima. The game is also reportedly going to end the storyline regarding the "Devil" gene in the Mishima family while opening doors for future installments.