Tekken 8: Cheating Plague Persists

Tekken 8, released a year ago, is plagued by a persistent and growing 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 use. These cheats remain unpunished.

Beyond cheating, significant technical issues further destabilize the game. Bugs like Yoshimitsu's unblockable attacks and flawed defense mechanics, combined with methods to artificially slow matches, severely impact competitive integrity.

Community figures like Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 recently exposed a cheating network openly distributing programs for automated dodging, combo blocking, and even loss avoidance. These cheaters continue to participate in ranked matches with impunity, despite public knowledge.

Currently, disabling crossplay on consoles offers the most reliable, though not perfect, protection. Even then, "smurfing"—using secondary accounts to target less experienced players—and exploiting control bugs remain prevalent.

Bandai Namco's announced second season in April offers little reassurance, with the community fearing a focus on DLC and cosmetics over critical online issues. Without decisive action, widespread player attrition and the game's long-term viability are seriously threatened.