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, 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 usage, yet these remain unpunished.

Beyond cheating, significant technical issues further compromise balance and gameplay. Yoshimitsu's unblockable attacks and flawed defense systems, coupled with methods to artificially slow matches, create a frustrating and unfair competitive environment.

Community figures like Mike Hollow and Blackheart59 recently exposed a sprawling cheater network openly distributing programs for automated dodging, combo blocking, and even loss avoidance. These players continue to compete in ranked matches with impunity, despite public knowledge and lack of developer intervention.

Currently, disabling crossplay on consoles offers the most reliable, albeit imperfect, protection. Even then, "smurfing" (using secondary accounts to exploit lower-skilled opponents) and control bug exploitation remain prevalent.

While Bandai Namco has announced Tekken 8's second season for April, a concrete anti-cheat strategy remains absent. Concerns grow that new DLC and cosmetic updates will overshadow the critical need to address online integrity. Continued inaction risks widespread player attrition and the long-term health of the game.