It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the pervasive issue of cheating continues to plague the game, growing worse by the day. Despite numerous player complaints and thorough investigations, Bandai Namco has not taken decisive action against dishonest players. If the developers fail to address this issue, the online mode risks spiraling into chaos, where fair play becomes the exception rather than the norm.
Shortly after Tekken 8's release, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman reflexes. Some players can block attacks in a single frame, an impossible feat without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others can instantly break any grabs, which also surpasses human capabilities. These actions are clear indicators of cheating, yet they remain unpunished.
Beyond cheating, the game still grapples with significant technical issues that disrupt balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable due to a glitch in the defense system. There are also methods to artificially slow down matches, throwing off the opponent's rhythm. When combined with cheats, these bugs render the competitive mode nearly unplayable.
Recently, prominent members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, uncovered a vast network of cheaters. Within their Discord group, programs are openly distributed that enable players to automatically dodge attacks, block combos, and even avoid losses. Astonishingly, these players continue to participate freely in ranked matches, and despite public exposure, Bandai Namco has yet to take any action.
The only relatively safe way to play is on consoles with crossplay disabled. However, even this method does not offer full protection against dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles used to compete against less experienced opponents, which further disrupts the balance. Others exploit control bugs to gain an unfair advantage.
Bandai Namco has announced the second season of Tekken 8, set to begin in April, but the developers still lack a clear strategy to combat cheaters. The community fears that the focus will shift to new DLCs and cosmetic updates rather than addressing critical online issues. If the situation does not improve, players may lose interest in the game en masse, jeopardizing its future.
