Tekken 8 Continues to Suffer from Numerous Cheaters

It has been a year since the release of Tekken 8, yet the issue of cheating within the game persists and continues to escalate. Despite ongoing complaints from the player base and internal investigations, Bandai Namco has not taken decisive action against dishonest players. Without intervention, the online mode risks devolving into chaos, where fair play becomes the exception rather than the norm.

Shortly after Tekken 8's launch, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman reflexes. For instance, some players can block attacks in a single frame, an impossibility without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others can instantly break any grabs, further demonstrating capabilities beyond human limits. These actions are clear indicators of cheating, yet they remain unpunished.

In addition to cheating, the game still grapples with significant technical issues that disrupt balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable, with the defense system failing to register them. There are also tactics to artificially slow down matches, throwing off 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 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 freely in ranked matches, and Bandai Namco has yet to respond, despite the public exposure.

The only relatively safe way to enjoy the game is by playing on consoles with crossplay disabled. However, this method does not offer complete protection from dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles to compete 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 commence in April, but the developers still lack a clear strategy to combat cheaters. The community fears that the focus will shift to new DLCs and cosmetic updates rather than addressing critical online issues. If the situation remains unchanged, players may lose interest in the game en masse, endangering its future.