It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the persistent problem of cheating continues to plague the game, growing worse despite numerous player complaints and Bandai Namco's own investigations. Without decisive action from the developers, 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 were able to block attacks in a single frame, an impossible feat without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others could instantly break any grabs, further indicating the use of cheats, which have gone unpunished.
In addition to cheating, the game still struggles with significant technical issues that impact balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally 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, dedicated members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, exposed a network of cheaters. In their Discord group, programs are openly shared 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 respond, despite the public exposure.
The only relatively safe way to play is on consoles with crossplay disabled. However, this does not offer complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles to compete against less experienced opponents, further disrupting 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, threatening its future.
