Mega Man 8 was the first game in the series made available on 32-bit consoles.
Capcom released Mega Man 8 in Japan for the PlayStation in 1996, followed by a Sega Saturn version in 1997. Those systems were part of the 32-bit console generation, making Mega Man 8 the first entry in the series to move onto that hardware class.
Despite the new platform, the game retained the familiar 2D side-scrolling structure of earlier Mega Man titles. It added more detailed presentation, animated full-motion-video sequences, voice acting, and improved sound and graphics while continuing the established stage-and-weapon formula.
Mega Man 7 was still a Super NES title, and Mega Man X3 originally appeared on 16-bit hardware. Mega Man Legends also used 32-bit-era systems, but it came later and was a separate 3D action-adventure spin-off rather than the first series game to reach those consoles.