It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the problem of cheating within the game persists and continues to escalate. Despite numerous player complaints and internal investigations, Bandai Namco has not taken decisive action to curb the activities of dishonest players. If the developers fail to address this issue, the online mode risks devolving into complete 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. For instance, some players can block attacks in a single frame, an action that is impossible without third-party software or macros. Others can instantly break any grab, which is beyond human capabilities. These actions clearly indicate the use of cheats, yet they remain unpunished.
In addition to cheating, the game still grapples with serious technical issues that impact balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks sometimes become unblockable due to the defense system failing to register them. There are also methods to artificially slow down matches, disrupting 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 an entire 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 Bandai Namco has yet to take any action despite public exposure.
The only relatively safe way to enjoy the game is by playing on consoles with crossplay disabled. However, even this does not guarantee complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles 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 commence 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.
