Tekken 8 Continues to Suffer from Numerous Cheaters

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

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

Beyond cheating, significant technical issues further undermine balance. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks sometimes become unblockable, the defense system malfunctions, and match manipulation techniques exist. These bugs, combined with rampant cheating, severely impact the competitive experience.

Community figures like Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 recently exposed a cheating network openly distributing programs for automatic dodging, combo blocking, and even loss avoidance. Despite this public exposure, these cheaters continue to play ranked matches with impunity.

Disabling crossplay on consoles offers a relatively safer experience, but not complete protection. "Smurfing"—creating secondary accounts to exploit lower-ranked opponents—and control bug exploitation remain issues.

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 cosmetics will take precedence over fixing crucial online problems. Continued inaction risks widespread player disengagement and jeopardizes the game's long-term health.