It has been a year since the launch of Tekken 8, yet the issue of cheating remains a significant concern that continues to escalate. Despite the community's outcry and Bandai Namco's own investigations, the developers have yet to implement effective measures to curb dishonest players. If this trend persists, the online mode risks devolving into chaos, where fair play becomes the exception rather than the rule.

Shortly after Tekken 8's release, videos emerged online showcasing players with seemingly superhuman abilities. Some players were seen blocking attacks in a single frame—a feat impossible without the aid of third-party software or macros. Others demonstrated the ability to instantly break any grab, far surpassing human reaction times. These actions are clear indicators of cheating, yet they go unpunished.

In addition to cheating, the game still grapples with serious technical issues that impact its balance and gameplay. For example, Yoshimitsu's attacks occasionally become unblockable due to the defense system failing to register them. There are also tactics to artificially slow down matches, disrupting opponents' rhythm. When combined with cheats, these bugs render the competitive mode nearly unplayable.

Recently, prominent members of the Tekken 8 community, such as Mike Hollow and Blackheart59, exposed a 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 compete in ranked matches without any repercussions from Bandai Namco, despite being publicly exposed.

The only relatively secure 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 face 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, slated to start in April, but the developers still lack a comprehensive plan to tackle cheaters. The community is concerned that the focus will shift towards new DLCs and cosmetic updates rather than addressing critical online issues. If the situation does not improve, players may lose interest in the game en masse, threatening its long-term viability.