Key Highlights:
- Roger Jr. joins Tekken 8 on November 12 for Season 3 Pass owners, followed by general availability on November 17.
- The returning fighter uses three stances, powerful throws and Heat-based attacks to control close-range combat.
- Yujiro Hanma receives his first in-game reveal, with a gameplay trailer scheduled for January 2027.
Following his gameplay reveal at EVO France, Tekken 8 will welcome Roger Jr. as its third Season 3 DLC fighter on November 12 for pass holders, with general availability beginning November 17.
Known as the Pocket Commander, Roger Jr. returns after more than a decade away from the series, last appearing as a playable fighter in Tekken Tag Tournament 2. His Commando Wrestling style combines powerful throws, acrobatic strikes and aggressive close-range pressure.
Although the character is named Roger Jr., his mother performs most of the attacks while the young kangaroo fights alongside her from inside her pouch. Bandai Namco has expanded his animations to make both characters appear more actively involved in combat.
The developer’s official breakdown of Roger Jr.’s fighting style reveals considerably more than the trailer alone, including three stances designed to compensate for his relatively short reach.
Rocket Stance forms the basis of his regular offensive pressure. Players can enter it from comparatively low-risk attacks, gaining access to low strikes and simplified inputs for powerful throws such as Whirling Punishment and Uluru Hurricane Bomb.
Astronauts takes advantage of Roger Jr.’s jumping ability, launching him into the air after certain successful attacks. The stance provides follow-ups that retain an advantage when blocked, Heat Engagers and an unbreakable throw. However, entering it requires committing to larger attacks.
The third stance, Bobbin Dance, becomes available during Heat. It creates a particularly dangerous choice between an unblockable high attack and a mid that can launch opponents into an aerial combo.
There is a catch: these attacks consume a substantial amount of the remaining Heat duration.
I think that resource cost is the most interesting part of Roger Jr.’s new fighting style. His strongest offensive sequences can overwhelm opponents with difficult decisions, but failed mix-ups could leave him without enough Heat time to continue applying pressure.
His Heat Smash also maintains an advantage when blocked and transitions into Astronauts, allowing Roger Jr. to remain close rather than surrendering his preferred fighting distance.
Bandai Namco has also embraced the character’s absurd sense of humour. Roger Jr.’s Rage Art sends his opponent flying towards the moon before destroying it, inspired by the ceiling-smashing endings from Tekken 5 and Tekken 6.
His Tekken 8 story is similarly chaotic.
After discovering that Roger has been unfaithful, Roger Jr.’s mother sends her husband flying with an uppercut. He crashes into a secret G Corporation research facility, accidentally causing an explosion while escaping.
G Corporation subsequently places a bounty on a boxing-glove-wearing kangaroo, mistakenly targeting Roger Jr. and his mother. The pair eventually decide to confront the corporation’s leadership to end the manhunt.
There is even a small community-inspired change to his appearance. Australian fans pointed out that the necklace worn by Roger Jr.’s mother originally read “mom” rather than “mum”. Bandai Namco responded by changing the lettering, reflecting the family’s Australian home.
The EVO France reveal follows an earlier announcement covered by GLN in June, when Roger Jr.’s planned gameplay showcase was confirmed alongside Bob’s Season 3 trailer.
Roger Jr. follows Kunimitsu and Bob as the third of four Season 3 characters. The final addition, Yujiro Hanma from Baki, also appeared briefly in the new trailer, providing the first look at his in-game model.
Bandai Namco has confirmed that Yujiro’s full gameplay trailer will debut during the Tekken World Tour Finals on January 17, 2027. His playable release date has not yet been announced.
