00 Setup ‐ Modding Prerequisites (Read Before Starting Anything) - CDDTreborn/Tekken-8-Resources GitHub Wiki

Modding Prerequisites (Read Before Starting Anything)

This section covers everything you need before starting Tekken 8 modding.

It applies to:

  • Blender work
  • Unreal Engine work
  • Asset extraction
  • Packaging mods

If something here is missing, stop and set it up first.

Required — Game Access

Tekken 8 (PC)

You must have access to the official PC version of the game.

Reason:

  • We need the correct meshes
  • We need the correct armatures
  • We need the correct file structure

Using ripped assets from third-party sites is not recommended. Those files may:

  • Use the wrong rig
  • Have altered hierarchies
  • Cause animation or export issues later

Required — Asset Inspection and Extraction

FModel

FModel is used to:

  • View the game’s asset hierarchy
  • Understand how assets are structured
  • Extract meshes, textures, and references
  • Identify what type of asset you are working with

FModel is a core tool for Tekken modding.

This guide does not explain how to use FModel.
See: https://github.com/CDDTreborn/Tekken-8-Resources/wiki/T8-Resources-%E2%80%90-FModel-Setup-and-Basic-Use.

Required — Blender

Blender Versions

Supported and commonly used versions:

  • Blender 3.6 LTS
  • Blender 4.5 LTS

You may use newer versions, but:

  • Some add-ons may not work
  • Community tools may lag behind

LTS versions are recommended.

Importing Non-Blender Meshes

If your mesh does not come from the game, you may need add-ons.

Examples:

  • MMD models
  • XNALara models
  • Other game formats

You are responsible for finding and installing the correct import add-ons.

Supported Extraction Formats

Blender supports:

  • PSK (commonly used)
  • glTF

Recommendations:

  • Blender 3.6 → PSK
  • Blender 4.5 → UE model format (if available)

Use what works best for your setup.

Required — Unreal Engine Setup

Custom Unreal Engine (Required)

You cannot use a stock public Unreal Engine build.

Tekken 8 modding requires:

  • A custom Unreal Engine build
  • A custom project with required asset types already defined

These are available through:

  • Modding Zaibatsu Discord
  • Community setup guides

See: https://github.com/CDDTreborn/Tekken-8-Resources/wiki

Visual Studio

You must install Visual Studio.

Recommended:

  • Visual Studio 2022

This is required for:

  • Building Unreal projects
  • Compiling required components

Disk Space and Performance

Expect:

  • 40–60 GB for Unreal Engine
  • Additional space for projects and extracted assets

If you have a low-spec PC:

  • Builds will take longer
  • Shader compilation may be slow
  • This is normal

Plan accordingly.

Required — Community Access

Modding Zaibatsu Discord

You should:

  • Join the Discord
  • Set up roles
  • Read pinned messages

Why this matters:

  • Community tools are shared there
  • Engine builds are distributed there
  • You can ask questions and get help

Optional — Asset Libraries and References

You may want access to:

  • Base meshes
  • Common rigs
  • Reference textures

Sources include:

  • TekkenMods.com
  • Community Discord links
  • GitHub repositories

Links will be provided here later:

Optional — Viewer / Extraction Tools

Noesis (and similar tools)

Useful for:

  • Viewing models from other repositories
  • Inspecting assets before import
  • Converting formats when needed

Optional, but helpful.

Optional — Workflow Helpers

You may choose to use:

  • Blender startup files
  • Prebuilt shader node setups
  • Community utility tools (including custom tools provided with this guide)

These are optional. All guides will explain the process without requiring tools first.

Tool usage will be shown as an optimization later.

Mindset and Expectations (Important)

Tekken modding:

  • Has many steps
  • Involves multiple tools
  • Requires patience

You should expect:

  • To re-do steps
  • To troubleshoot issues
  • To learn why things work, not just how

Avoid:

  • Looking for shortcuts
  • Skipping fundamentals
  • Assuming tools will “fix” logic problems

Asking for Help (How to Get Good Answers)

When asking the community for help:

  • Explain what you are trying to do
  • List what steps you already took
  • Mention which tools and versions you are using

Do not worry about:

  • Someone stealing your idea
  • Asking “basic” questions

People can only help if they understand the full context.

Learning Outside This Guide

This guide explains Tekken-specific logic.

You are encouraged to also use:

  • YouTube tutorials for Blender basics
  • Unreal Engine documentation
  • General material and rigging tutorials

Tekken uses standard industry tools. Many problems are not Tekken-specific.

Stop Here

If you now have:

  • Game access
  • FModel
  • Blender
  • Unreal Engine setup
  • Community access

You are ready to continue.

Next Section

Next, we move into:

  • Blender Concepts Before Modeling
  • Understanding scene scale, references, and expectations