"Tekken 8 Struggles with Persistent Cheating Issues"

It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the problem of cheating within the game not only persists but is escalating. Despite the community's ongoing complaints and their own investigations, Bandai Namco has failed to implement effective measures against dishonest players. If the developers do not act swiftly, the online mode is at risk of becoming a chaotic free-for-all, where fair play is 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 third-party software or macros. Others can instantly escape any grabs, which is beyond human capability. These actions clearly indicate the use of cheats, yet they go unpunished.

In addition to cheating, the game still grapples with significant technical issues that disrupt balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks can sometimes become unblockable due to defense system failures. 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, dedicated members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, exposed a widespread network of cheaters. Within 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 in ranked matches without any repercussions from Bandai Namco, despite being publicly exposed.

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 against dishonest players. Some users create "smurf accounts"—secondary profiles used to compete against less experienced opponents, further disrupting the game's 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 towards new DLCs and cosmetic updates rather than resolving critical online issues. If the situation does not improve, players may lose interest in the game en masse, threatening its future.