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 unpunished.

Compounding the issue are significant technical problems impacting balance. Yoshimitsu's attacks sometimes become unblockable, the defense system malfunctions, and match manipulation through artificial slowdown tactics exists. These bugs, combined with cheating, severely compromise competitive play.

Community figures like Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 recently exposed a cheating network openly distributing programs for automated dodging, combo blocking, and even loss avoidance. Despite this public exposure, these cheaters continue to participate in ranked matches without consequence from Bandai Namco.

Disabling crossplay on consoles offers a relatively safer, but not foolproof, experience. "Smurfing"—using secondary accounts to exploit less experienced players—and control bug exploitation further disrupt balance.

While Bandai Namco has announced Tekken 8's second season for April, a clear anti-cheat strategy remains absent. The community fears that new DLC and cosmetic updates will take precedence over addressing critical online issues, potentially leading to a mass exodus of players and jeopardizing the game's long-term health.