Tekken 8 Plagued by Persistent Cheating Issues

It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the persistent issue of cheating within the game remains unresolved and is, in fact, escalating. Despite numerous player complaints and internal investigations, Bandai Namco has not taken decisive action against dishonest players. If the developers fail to address this problem, the online mode risks descending 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, a feat impossible without the use of third-party software or macros. Others instantly break any grabs, which also surpasses human capabilities. These actions clearly indicate the use of cheats, yet they remain unpunished.

In addition to cheating, the game continues to suffer from significant technical issues that affect balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks sometimes become unblockable due to a 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 make the competitive mode nearly unplayable.

Recently, prominent members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, uncovered a network of cheaters. In 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 play is by using consoles with crossplay disabled. However, even this does not guarantee complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles to play against less experienced opponents, which 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 priority will be given to new DLCs and cosmetic updates rather than fixing critical online issues. If the situation does not change, players may lose interest in the game en masse, jeopardizing its future.