The “Pretty Protector”, Panda is the latest Tekken 8 fighter to get a spotlight trailer

Kung-fu Panda? That’s pretty much accurate, though this battlin’ bear is also a bodyguard to Tekken 8’s Ling Xiaoyu.

Iron-Fist Panda maybe?

First making her debut way back in 1997’s Tekken 3, the butt-whooping black and white bear known only as Panda has indeed been a series mainstay. And as you can see here, the character will return once again for this month’s Tekken 8.

Panda stars in the latest spotlight trailer for the game from Bandai Namco, and shows that her species can actually be more than just rolly polly balls of fluff.

Next up on the roster is Panda, Panda’s nickname as the “Pretty Protector” comes from her double duty as both Ling Xiaoyu’s pet and bodyguard. She uses Heihachi-Style Advanced Kuma Shin Ken as her fighting style.

Bandai Namco press release

According to Bandai Namco, all of the characters in Tekken 8 will play key roles in the game’s narrative, and we assume that includes Panda here. She’s also not the only bear in the fighting game, as Kuma was announced a few weeks back, to there might be a battle for ursine-supremacy waiting in the wings.

Find out just what’s in store for Panda, as well as the rest of the new and returning Tekken fighters in Tekken 8, arriving on January 26th. Look for the game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.