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 not only persists but continues to escalate. Despite ongoing complaints from the player base and Bandai Namco's own investigations, the company has not yet implemented decisive measures to curb the activities of dishonest players. If the developers fail to act, the online mode risks devolving into complete 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. For instance, some players can block attacks in a single frame, a feat impossible without the use of third-party software or macros. Others can instantly break any grabs, which also surpasses human capabilities. These actions are clear indicators of cheating, yet they go unpunished.

Beyond cheating, the game still grapples with serious technical issues that impact balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable, and the defense system fails to register them. There are also techniques 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, 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 guarantee complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles used to compete against less experienced opponents, further disrupting balance. Others exploit control bugs to gain an unfair advantage.

Bandai Namco has announced the second season of Tekken 8, scheduled to start in April, but the developers still lack a clear strategy to tackle 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.