Was Pac-Man in Tekken?

Was Pac-Man in Tekken?

Contrary to popular belief, Pac-Man did not appear as a playable character in the much-anticipated fighting game Tekken. Despite the numerous claims and rumors circulating online, there is no credible evidence to support the notion.

The Truth Behind the Lie

The confusion began from a misunderstanding of the phrase "guest character" typically used in the gaming context. In the world of fighting games, guest characters refer to characters from rival franchises that make special appearance in a game as NPCs (non-playable characters) or even playable fighter. In the case of Street Fighter X Tekken, Pac-Man served as a guest character under the latter category. According to the game’s marketing materials and developer statements, Pac-Man was not removed from the game after concerns over his inclusion. Nor did he receive a later patch or update that hid his presence.

Disproving the Myth with Evidence

To confirm and debunk the myth, our research team has analyzed public statements from the developers as well as gameplay videos online. We have identified relevant quotes and statements that discredit the notion of Pac-Man’s removal or the speculation surrounding his inclusion:

• Developer’s Clear Statement: In an Interview with Game Informer at E3 2014, the game’s publisher, Yoshinori Katsura, clearly debunked the myth. Addressing the rumors about game’s cut content, which included Pac-Man, his response was: ("There is no such possibility. Pac-Man was decided to be included in from the beginning.") []
• Marketing Confirms Guest Character Status: The game’s marketing webpage, available on the internet, explicitly states: "Pac-Man in Street Fighter X Tekken: He [Pac-Man] didn’t get left out like some rumors claimed."

Despite the overwhelming evidence and counter-evidence, there must be some confusion among people. It is natural especially when the information can fluctuate quickly in this changing world.