Tekken 8 Plagued by Persistent Cheating Issues

It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the issue 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 dishonest gameplay. If the developers do not address this issue soon, the online mode risks becoming a chaotic environment where fair play is the exception rather than the rule.

Shortly after Tekken 8's release, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman reflexes. Some players can block attacks in a single frame, an impossible feat without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others can 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 still grapples with significant technical issues that impact balance and gameplay. For instance, Yoshimitsu's attacks sometimes become unblockable, and the defense system fails 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, including Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, uncovered a widespread 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 in ranked matches without any repercussions from Bandai Namco, despite public exposure.

The only relatively safe way to enjoy the game is by playing on consoles with crossplay disabled. However, even this method does not offer 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, scheduled to begin in April, but the developers still lack a clear strategy to combat cheaters. The community fears that new DLCs and cosmetic updates will take priority over resolving critical online issues. If the situation does not improve, players may lose interest in the game en masse, jeopardizing its future.