It has been a full year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the persistent problem of cheating within the game continues to escalate, with no effective resolution in sight. Despite the flood of player complaints and Bandai Namco's own investigations, the company has not yet implemented decisive measures to curb dishonest gameplay. If the developers fail to act, the online mode risks spiraling into total chaos, where fair play becomes a rare occurrence rather than the standard.
Shortly after Tekken 8 hit the market, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman reflexes. Some are able to block attacks in a single frame—a feat impossible without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others can instantly counter any grab, which is beyond human capability. These behaviors are clear indicators of cheating, yet they go unpunished.
In addition to cheating, the game still grapples with severe technical issues that impact its balance and overall gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable due to the defense system's failure to recognize them. There are also tactics to deliberately slow down matches, throwing off opponents' timing. When combined with cheats, these bugs render competitive play nearly unplayable.
Recently, prominent members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, exposed a vast network of cheaters. Within their Discord group, programs are freely distributed that enable players to automatically evade attacks, block combos, and even avoid losses. Astonishingly, these cheaters continue to participate in ranked matches without any intervention from Bandai Namco, despite being publicly exposed.
The safest way to enjoy the game appears to be on consoles with crossplay turned off. However, this does not offer full protection against dishonest players. Some create "smurf accounts" to play against less experienced opponents, skewing the balance further. Others exploit control glitches to gain an unfair edge.
Bandai Namco has announced the second season of Tekken 8, slated to start in April, but the developers still lack a clear plan to tackle the cheater problem. The community worries that the focus will shift towards new DLCs and cosmetic enhancements, rather than addressing these critical online issues. If the situation remains unchanged, players may abandon the game in droves, threatening its long-term viability.
