Published by: Arcade Press
Date: Retrospective Analysis (Original Release: Late 2012/Early 2013)
In the golden era of fighting games on the PlayStation 3, few titles commanded as much respect and reverence as Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (TTT2). Released globally in September 2012, it was a celebration of Namco Bandai’s storied franchise—a colossal roster of over 50 characters, two-on-two tag mechanics, and the return of the moody, technical Tekken gameplay. However, like any competitive fighter, launch was only the beginning. The true mettle of a fighting game is forged in its post-launch support.
Enter Update 1.03. While not the massive overhaul that 1.02 was (which added World Tekken Federation online services), version 1.03 arrived quietly but carried a surgical scalpel. It was a patch designed to address specific bugs, fine-tune online stability, and—most importantly—rebalance a handful of characters that had begun to dominate the early tournament scene.
Here are the most notorious adjustments:
| Character | Buff | Nerf |
|-----------|------|------|
| Kazuya Mishima | EWGF (Electric) recovery reduced by 2f | Demon Steel Pedal damage reduced from 32 to 28 |
| Ling Xiaoyu | N/A | AoP u+1 no longer crushes mids; hitbox extended |
| Bob | d+1 on block is now -12f (was -9f) | Wall carry from df+2 reduced |
| Christie/Eddy | Handstand entry frames improved | Relax stance’s evasion nerfed |
| Jinpachi | None | d+1+2 unblockable charge time increased by 8f |
Notably, Tag buffers were fixed. In patch 1.02, tagging out during a throw break would sometimes cause the incoming character to freeze. Update 1.03 resolved this entirely.
While not the main focus, the update also included minor tweaks to the user interface and customization items.
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Update 1.03 for Tekken Tag Tournament 2 was released in late 2012 to address several technical and gameplay issues across all regions Key Changes & Fixes Stage Adjustments tekken tag tournament 2 ps3 update 1.03
: Removed the word "Allah" from the Saudi Arabia stage floor following community feedback Resolved a specific glitch involving Sebastian's "Stone Garden" (d/b+4, b+1) move during Tag Assaults Kunimitsu's
hitbox to prevent her from ducking under certain mid-attacks tag throw escapes Online Enhancements
Added a "Rank ±2 only" search condition to improve matchmaking with players of similar skill
Introduced distinct alert sounds when finding opponents in "Random Match Zone" or "World Arena" Replay downloads now display the total number of downloads Character Content
This update (along with 1.02) acted as a bridge to unlock free DLC characters—such as Dr. Bosconovitch
—and new stages for players with the physical disc version
Note: For the digital PSN version, these updates are often consolidated into version 1.01 instead of 1.03 changes included in this patch?
: The most notable aesthetic change was the removal of "Allah" from the floor of the Saudi Arabia stage. This addressed community concerns regarding religious iconography being stepped on during fights. Glitch Removal : The notorious "Infinite Kicks" glitch Tekken Tag Tournament 2 on PS3: A Deep Dive into Update 1
was patched out. Opponents can now properly block after the second repetition of these kicks, significantly improving balance. Character Adjustments : A critical glitch affecting Sebastian was fixed.
: Her hitbox was improved to prevent her from ducking certain mid-attacks, and her Rising Kazura
was adjusted to allow opponents to roll (ukemi) when falling. Alisa & JACK-6
: Their tag throw escapes were refined for better consistency. www.gamingnexus.com Online and Matchmaking Enhancements
Reviewers and technical patch notes highlight that 1.03 significantly stabilized the PlayStation Network experience. Smarter Matchmaking
: New search filters like "Rank ±2 only" or "Rank ±3 only" were added. This ensures players are matched with opponents of a similar skill level, reducing the "brutal" learning curve for newcomers. Player Match Queue
: In "Player Matches," any player who hits the win limit is now automatically moved to the back of the queue, allowing more participants a turn to fight. Audible Alerts
: A distinct alert sound now triggers when a "Free Battle" is requested in the World Arena or when an opponent is found in the Random Match Zone. General Game Performance System and online fixes
: The update maintained the game's reputation for having some of the most fluid, lag-free online fighting on the PS3. Technical Polish
: Adjustments to wall hit damage (specifically for P. JACK) and tag assault behaviors ensure that high-level "juggle" combos remain technically sound but fair. Higher Plain Music Note for Modern Players: If you are playing on an emulator like
, this update is often required to unlock later DLC characters like Dr. Bosconovitch and Unknown using specific save data patches. currently viable in this version? Game Review: Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (PS3) 26 Sept 2012 —
When Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (TTT2) launched, it was celebrated as one of the most content-rich fighting games of the generation. However, like many complex fighters, it required fine-tuning to balance the massive roster and smooth out the online experience. Update 1.03, released in early 2013, was a significant milestone in the game’s post-launch support, acting as the "Final Round" patch that polished the game for the competitive community.
Here is a breakdown of what Update 1.03 brought to the table:
Update 1.03 was the final major balance patch for Tekken Tag Tournament 2 on PS3. Later updates (1.04, 1.05) would only address critical online server issues. By early 2013, the meta had solidified:
The 1.03 update is remembered fondly by veterans as the patch that removed “jank” without over-nerfing the fun. It didn’t kill any character, nor did it make any god-tier. It simply tightened the screws.
Note: The exact move names and exact numerical values varied per character; below are typical types of adjustments implemented in 1.03.
(These are representative; bandai namco’s official patch notes list exact per-character entries.)