'Tekken 7' release date, updates: playable title at this week's Play Expo; cross-platform play not confirmed

A screenshot from "Tekken 7"Bandai Namco Entertainment

Bandai Namco Entertainment is giving fighting game lovers in Manchester the chance to try out "Tekken 7" at the upcoming Play Expo to be held on Oct. 8 and 9.

The ninth "Tekken" installment in the beloved series will be one of the playable installment games at the North's biggest video gaming convention.

There is no word as to what extent of "Tekken 7" the attendees will be able to access, but it looks like players will get the full experience. Those who want to grace the two-day event can get details about tickets can go to the event's official website.

Apart from "Tekken 7," Play Expo will also feature another one of Bandai Namco's upcoming offerings — the fighting game sequel "Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2" as well as "WWE 2K17" by 2K Games.

In other related news, cross-platform play for "Tekken 7" will no longer be possible, according to game director Katsuhiro Harada.

In a translation by Flying Wonkey, he cited issues on security as the reason they decided against carrying out the highly-anticipated feature.

"It's not a matter of the technology for getting the PlayStation 4/Xbox One/PC players to match up against each other being the issue," Harada stated on Twitter.

"But rather first party company policies and potential security risks alongside the community perceived reputation of PC gamers being cheaters that is hindering the decision to allow cross platform play," he went on to explain.

Harada's comment on the negative reputation being attached to PC gamers reflects the views of the majority of console users towards these players, as pointed out by PC Gamer.

The news definitely frustrates PC users who have been looking forward to playing "Tekken 7" with friends of various consoles especially the ones who have been playing clean. This also strips Bandai Namco of the possibility to net more online players.

It is unclear at the moment if Bandai Namco's feelings towards cross-platform play in "Tekken 7" will remain the same up to the release of the game. For now, PC fans will just have to hope for the best.

"Tekken 7" will be released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC sometime next year.