Tekken 8’s network test announcement is turning heads

The rather unfortunate acronym is featured heavily across Tekken 8's social channels

Tekken 8 was recently announced to be getting a network test, which will let some players play the game for a little bit online to stress the servers and make sure everything is working okay. It’s a nice idea, and one we’ve seen more of lately, with Diablo 4 and Street Fighter 6 both getting network tests ahead of launch. So what’s the problem? Well, it’s got a rather unfortunate name.

Tekken 8’s Closed Network Test is being officially abbreviated to Tekken 8 CNT. They even made up a logo for it, prominently featuring the letters CNT in all caps underneath the Tekken 8 logo. Take a look for yourself in the tweet below.

Join the #TEKKEN8 Closed Network Test and get an early step into the ring!

Registration is now open to all fighters who want an early taste of power & destruction.

Asia 👉 https://t.co/TNBlhmnbcD
EMEA 👉 https://t.co/L1guXTSFPH
Americas 👉 https://t.co/rixbKD3fzC pic.twitter.com/1VyFi6qC3P

— TEKKEN (@TEKKEN) June 14, 2023

Yeah. Yeahhh. That’s uh, quite a choice. The terminology is fine, honestly, but shortening it like that and featuring it prominently in your marketing material is probably not the best idea. It looks like… something else. Aussies and Brits know what’s up.

This isn’t the first time Bandai Namco has used the closed network test moniker for a closed beta. Elden Ring also used the term, although it was never shortened and featured quite like Tekken’s is right now.

Users on Twitter were quick to point out the similarity to a certain other word, with many responding with jokes and memes to the tweet announcing the test.

For a second there I thought Tekken 8 was getting an incredible name change https://t.co/2EEqetZYzk

— Nathan Ellingsworth (@NateAndDestroy) June 14, 2023

"hey aussie friend, cool fighting game you're playing, what is it?"
aussie friend: https://t.co/MJnGnecgPx

— Valk 🔆 (@einherjarvalk) June 15, 2023

Head-turning name aside, those who participate in the CNT in late July will get to pick from a selection of 16 characters, including fan favorites like Jin, Kazuya, and King, the best Tekken fighter. There’ll also be five different stages to play on, all of which are looking pretty slick.

Tekken 8 doesn’t have a firm release date yet, or even a release window, but with how much of a focus Bandai Namco has been putting on it lately, it can’t be too far away.

In the meantime, if you’re itching for some fighting game goodness, you could check out our Street Fighter 6 review, in which we call the game “the best a Capcom fighter has ever been at launch.”

Or you could go sign up for the Mortal Kombat 1 online stress test, which has a much kinder acronym and is starting next weekend. It’s going to be a very good year for fighting games.