Tekken 8’s eSport scene has an undisputed GOAT: Arslan Ash.
Arslan Ash has won eight Evo titles, among many other major tournament wins. But along the way, he has continued to criticize core elements of the game, including “casino” gameplay, a lack of technical requirements and ongoing character balance requests.
Now, it seems Arslan Ash could have his eyes on a different game.
The FGC was shocked when Arslan and other top players decided to skip Evo France. Arslan has been very vocal about Evo “losing its prestige” from the massive expansion, and seemed to think “other commitments” were more important than winning another Evo title in Nice.
Looks like I’ll be skipping EVO France this time due to some personal commitments.
Sad to miss it, especially after the memories from last year. Good luck to everyone competing 🇫🇷❤️— Twis | Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) October 5, 2026
Those “commitments” could have just been revealed. And it could mean a huge shift in Arslan Ash’s career, and the future of Tekken 8 eSports.
Arslan Ash has his eyes on Fatal Fury
During a recent livestream, Arslan Ash reportedly shared his reasons for skipping Evo: “I’m very busy because I’ve been traveling a lot. I recently returned to Japan, and now I have driving and Japanese classes before my family arrives. I also need to buy a car, and I can’t do that without a Japanese driving license.
“The other thing is that I want to stay focused on Fatal Fury. If I keep traveling and competing in Tekken, I can never fully focus on it.”
A license!?!?!
Just kidding. The clear shocker here is Arslan Ash opening up about his dedication to Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
I can’t fully confirm if Arslan Ash said this on his livestream, but it echoes what he has told me during previous interviews. At Evo Las Vegas 2026, I asked him what he would do if he wasn’t playing Tekken 8 during a talk about retirement.
“I have only a few years left,” he reflected. “Maybe 10 years? You have to retire eventually. I’m almost 30. The young players are getting better. I have this short period of time, so I want to keep winning.”
Whoah… Just a few years? I figured he’d mention a dramatic career pivot or some family goals when I asked what he’d do once he’s at “retirement age.” Yes, you usually retire around 30 in eSports.
But he told me he would play Fatal Fury.
He’s not ready to give up competitive fighting games at all. He just has a plan to keep being the best, even if it means switching games.
The top players can’t remain the top forever. Tekken 8 is a pretty popular fighting game, and new players are constantly entering the scene. Arslan likely knows that the landscape will keep changing. Maybe he won’t be able to keep up after a while.
So Arslan has been grinding Fatal Fury for when that inevitable moment comes. Fatal Fury has a much smaller scene and it’s full of veterans. Fatal Fury had less entrants at Evo France than Avatar and Guilty Gear Strive.
Arslan Ash making an official pivot to Fatal Fury would likely raise interest in that game. But it would give Arslan Ash a good few years to dominate in a scene full of other 30-plus fighting game GOATs. It would honestly be incredible to watch these matchups.
For now, it’s unclear if Arslan will fully leave Tekken 8 behind. And if he does, we don’t know when. It’s not that crazy for fighting game players to switch scenes. Just ask Leffen. But Arslan Ash is currently the undisputed GOAT, so it’s a bit more shocking.
But I’m personally here for it. Big if true.
