It has been a year since the release of Tekken 8, and the issue of cheating within the game remains a significant concern that continues to escalate. Despite ongoing complaints from the player base and thorough investigations, Bandai Namco has yet to implement effective measures to curb the activities of dishonest players. Without decisive action from the developers, the online mode of Tekken 8 risks descending into a state of chaos, where fair play becomes the exception rather than the rule.
Shortly after its launch, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman reflexes. Some individuals were seen blocking attacks in a single frame, an action that is humanly impossible without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others were able to instantly break any grabs, which also surpasses normal human capabilities. These actions are clear indicators of cheating, yet they remain unpunished.
In addition to cheating, the game continues to suffer from serious technical issues that disrupt balance and gameplay. For instance, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable, as the defense system fails to register them. 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, have exposed a widespread 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 the public exposure.
The only relatively safe way to play is by using consoles with crossplay disabled. However, even this does not offer complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles to play against less experienced opponents, which disrupts the competitive 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 addressing the critical online issues. If the situation does not improve, players may lose interest in the game en masse, jeopardizing its future.
