It's been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, and the problem of cheating within the game not only persists but has escalated significantly. Despite numerous reports from the player base and internal investigations, Bandai Namco has yet to implement effective measures against these dishonest players. Without intervention, the online mode is at risk of spiraling into total disarray, where fair play becomes a rarity rather than the standard.
Shortly after Tekken 8's release, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman abilities. For instance, some players are able to block attacks in a single frame, an action that's impossible without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others can instantly break any grab, which also surpasses human capabilities. These behaviors unmistakably point to the use of cheats, yet they go unpunished.
Beyond cheating, the game continues to grapple with severe technical issues that impact its balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks can sometimes become unblockable due to a defense system that fails to recognize them. Additionally, there are techniques to intentionally slow down matches, throwing off the opponent's timing. When combined with cheats, these bugs render the competitive mode almost unplayable.
Recently, key members of the Tekken 8 community, including Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, exposed an extensive network of cheaters. Within their Discord group, programs are freely shared that enable players to automatically evade attacks, block combos, and even avoid losses. Astonishingly, these players are still allowed to compete in ranked matches without any repercussions from Bandai Namco, despite being publicly called out.
The only somewhat secure way to play is on consoles with crossplay turned off. However, this is not a foolproof solution against dishonest players. Some users resort to "smurf accounts" — secondary profiles used to compete against less skilled opponents, further disrupting the game's balance. Others exploit control bugs to gain an unfair edge.
Bandai Namco has announced the second season of Tekken 8, slated to start in April, but the developers have yet to outline a comprehensive plan to tackle cheaters. The community is concerned that the focus might shift towards new DLCs and cosmetic updates, rather than addressing these critical online issues. If the situation doesn't improve, players might lose interest in the game on a large scale, threatening its future.
