Hit PS1 Game from 1998 Is Returning to PS5 and PS4

Sony has confirmed that one of the most loved fighting games of the PlayStation 1 era is making its way back. Tekken 3, the hit title that first came to arcades in 1997 before landing on the PS1 in 1998, will soon be added to the PlayStation Plus Classics library for PS5 and PS4.

The announcement was made this week by PlayStation, who also revealed that the re-release will arrive before the end of 2025.

Tekken 3 is remembered as a landmark game in the series. It introduced new characters like Jin Kazama, Ling Xiaoyu, and Bryan Fury, while also adding the sidestep mechanic that made fights feel more fluid and dynamic. The PS1 version included extra content such as the Tekken Force mode, which made it even more popular with fans at the time.

When it first launched, the game became a phenomenon both in arcades and on home consoles. In Japan alone, it sold more than a million copies on its first day, and by the end of its run, Tekken 3 had sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

This made it one of the best-selling games on the original PlayStation, according to series producer Katsuhiro Harada. Its success cemented its place as one of the most iconic fighting games of all time, and it has often been called one of the greatest video games ever made.

The game’s arcade release was also a massive success. It topped sales charts in Japan in 1997 and 1998, outselling nearly every other title at the time. Internationally, it moved more than 35,000 arcade units, with most of them sold outside Japan. The PlayStation version went on to break records across Europe and the United States as well, earning hundreds of millions in revenue by the end of the decade.

This is not the first time Tekken 3 has been re-released. It was previously included as part of the Tekken 5 collection on the PS2 and later bundled into Sony’s PlayStation Classic mini console. Still, its arrival on PS5 and PS4 marks the first time it will be officially available on modern systems through PlayStation Plus.

At this point, Sony hasn’t shared if this version will include any upgrades or special features. What’s certain is that longtime fans and new players will soon have a chance to revisit one of the most defining fighting games of the late ’90s.

Bringing Tekken 3 back is a smart move by Sony. It is still remembered fondly by millions of players, and having it on modern hardware could introduce it to a whole new audience. I’m curious if Sony will simply re-release it as-is or give it a small update to match today’s standards. What do you think about Tekken 3 making its comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments.