The Tekken 8 Roger Jr. reveal is the kind of news that makes fighting game fans do a double take: the boxing kangaroo is back. Bandai Namco announced today that Roger Jr., also known as the “Pocket Commander,” joins TEKKEN 8 tomorrow, November 11, at 3:00 p.m. PST as an Early Access fighter for Season 3 Pass holders, with a full purchase release for all players on November 16. He is not arriving alone, either — a second NIKE x TEKKEN collaboration is on the way, bringing King-inspired items and a limited-time NIKE theme for the ARENA battle stage. Bandai Namco’s announcement gives Season 3 its most unexpected fighter yet.
Roger Jr. is a deep cut, and that is exactly why his return lands so hard. First introduced in TEKKEN 5, the young kangaroo was wrongly framed for the destruction of a G Corporation building after dealing with his father, Roger, who had been unfaithful to his mother. He and his mother are now on a journey to defeat their assailants and take down the head of G Corporation. It is a revenge story wrapped in a family saga, and it is pure Tekken — a series that has always mixed genuine drama with gloriously absurd fighters.
His return also says something about where TEKKEN 8 is headed. The game has leaned into its history since launch, bringing back fan favourites and deep cuts alongside brand-new fighters, and Roger Jr. is one of the most requested of the lot. He is a reminder that Tekken’s roster has always been its greatest strength — a fighting game where a kangaroo, a bear and a robot can share a stage with a devil, and nobody in the crowd blinks.
Tekken 8 Roger Jr. Fights With Commando Wrestling
In TEKKEN 8, Roger Jr. fights with his Commando Wrestling style, mixing dynamic attacks with pro-wrestling throws to fend off his opponents and make it out of this manhunt alive. Bandai Namco describes him as a kicking powerhouse, and the new trailer shows exactly what that means: a small fighter with oversized gloves, spring-loaded movement and a habit of turning a boxing ring into a wrestling mat. For a roster already packed with Mishimas, devils and bears, a commando kangaroo somehow feels right at home.
Season Pass 3’s Roster: Bob, Kunimitsu, Roger Jr. and Yujiro Hanma
Roger Jr. is the latest addition to Season Pass 3, joining Bob and Kunimitsu, with the upcoming Yujiro Hanma still to come. That makes him the third Season 3 character to arrive, and his early access window gives Pass holders a five-day head start before the November 16 general release. TEKKEN 8 continues the tragic saga of the Mishima bloodline, filled with father-son grudge matches, as players try to stop Kazuya’s reign of terror — and with playable characters from the series who were not playable before, the roster keeps finding new ways to surprise.
Second Nike x Tekken Collab Brings King-Inspired Items and a Nike ARENA Stage
The Nike side of the announcement is a sequel in its own right. TEKKEN 8 will feature the latest NIKE x TEKKEN collaboration, with special items inspired by King’s appearances in TEKKEN 3 and TEKKEN 8 planned for TEKKEN Fight Pass – Round 12. As part of the collaboration, the ARENA battle stage will feature a NIKE theme for a limited time. Bandai Namco says additional details will be announced through official channels at a later date, so the full item list is still under wraps — but King-inspired gear and a branded stage are a strong start for a crossover that clearly has legs.
Watch the Tekken 8 Roger Jr. Trailer
Bandai Namco has released an official gameplay trailer introducing Roger Jr. — watch it here:
When Can You Play as Roger Jr.?
Season 3 Pass holders get Roger Jr. tomorrow, November 11, at 3:00 p.m. PST. Everyone else can buy him from November 16, 2026. TEKKEN 8 is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, and more information is on the official site at tekken.com. If you have been waiting for a reason to jump back into the King of Iron Fist Tournament, a boxing kangaroo with a grudge against G Corporation is about as good a reason as it gets.
Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment America’s TEKKEN 8 Roger Jr. announcement, via GamesPress.
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