Tekken 8: Cheating Plague Persists

Tekken 8's first year has been marred by a persistent and escalating cheating problem. Despite player complaints and evidence, Bandai Namco's response has been insufficient, threatening to unravel fair play in online modes.

Shortly after launch, videos emerged showcasing players exhibiting superhuman reflexes—impossible feats like single-frame blocking and instantaneous grab breaks, clear indicators of third-party software or macro usage. These cheats remain unchecked.

Compounding the problem are persistent technical issues impacting balance. Bugs like Yoshimitsu's unblockable attacks and flawed defense registration, alongside methods for artificially slowing matches, create an uneven playing field further exacerbated by the rampant cheating.

Community figures like Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 recently exposed a cheater network openly distributing programs for automated dodges, combo blocks, and even loss avoidance. Despite this public exposure, these players continue to compete in ranked matches without consequence from Bandai Namco.

Disabling crossplay on consoles offers a relatively safer, albeit imperfect, experience. However, even this doesn't eliminate the threat of "smurfing"—accounts created to exploit less skilled players—or the exploitation of control bugs for unfair advantages.

While Bandai Namco has announced Tekken 8's second season for April, a clear anti-cheat strategy remains absent. The community worries that new DLC and cosmetic updates will overshadow the urgent need to address these critical online issues. Continued inaction risks widespread player attrition and jeopardizes the game's long-term viability.