Anti-Cheat
Ongoing coverage on Anti-Cheat.
Latest coverage
Call Of Duty Gets Anti-Cheat Upgrades And New 2FA Requirements For Season 3
Activision is implementing significant anti-cheat upgrades and new two-factor authentication requirements for PC players in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 3. These measures include enhanced detection of unapproved third-party hardware and mandatory Microsoft two-factor authentication for new free-to-play accounts, with plans to expand to existing accounts soon.
NARAKA Drops Legendary Rewards for Snitching on Cheaters — Only 2 Players Earned Them
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT has introduced a new anti-cheat system that rewards players with legendary skins for reporting cheaters. During the first week, 15 cheaters were banned, but only two players earned rewards, highlighting a potential disconnect between developer detection and player reporting. The system uses tiered rewards to incentivize accurate reporting and aims to leverage community policing to maintain a fair gaming environment.
Valve VAC bans a million CS2 accounts in one day
Valve has issued one million VAC bans for Counter-Strike 2 accounts in a single day, indicating a significant crackdown on cheating. Separately, Razer has launched the NiKo Collection, a line of gaming peripherals co-designed with Counter-Strike legend Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač.
Danger Zone
Valve's anti-cheat system, VAC, has banned approximately one million accounts in Counter-Strike 2 within a single day. This significant action highlights Valve's ongoing efforts to combat cheating in the popular PC title.
Marvel Rivals Devs Confirm Nintendo Switch 2 Version Is in the Works
NetEase, the developer of Marvel Rivals, has confirmed that a version for the Nintendo Switch is in development. The game has implemented an "Victim Compensation Protocol" to address issues with players being paid to intentionally lose matches.
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Drops Legendary Rewards for Community Cheat Hunters
24 Entertainment has implemented a new anti-cheat reward system for NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, incentivizing players to report cheaters with in-game rewards, including a legendary spear skin. This community-driven approach aims to foster a fair competitive environment by rewarding accurate reporting and complementing automated detection systems.
Danger Zone
PUBG: Battlegrounds has revealed its anti-cheat roadmap for 2026. The update outlines the developer's plans to enhance security measures and combat cheating within the game.
Apex Legends Goes Nuclear on Cheaters with 10,909 Bans in One Week
Respawn Entertainment has banned over 10,900 Apex Legends accounts in one week for cheating, targeting players using expensive hardware like Xim, DMA devices, and HWID spoofers. This crackdown focuses on hardware-based cheating, which is more costly for offenders to replace than software cheats. The company is also implementing a new detection model, suggesting this ban wave is just the beginning of enhanced anti-cheat measures.
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Bans 48 Cheaters But Only 2 Players Reported Them
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT's developer, 24 Entertainment, banned 48 cheaters in one week, but only two players reported them, highlighting a significant issue with the game's player reporting system. Despite rewards like legendary skins for successful reports, community participation remains extremely low, suggesting potential problems with player awareness, system friction, or trust in the reporting process. The article argues for a more streamlined and transparent reporting system to improve competitive integrity.
Valorant Reveals New Agent Miks
Valorant has revealed a new agent named Miks. The article also discusses potential conflicts between kernel-level anti-cheat software, such as Valorant's Vanguard and Battlefield 6's system, highlighting concerns about system instability and data mining.
Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE) Unveils Industry-First Anti-Cracking iOS Hardening Solution and AI Security Framework at GDC 2026
At GDC 2026, Tencent Games' Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE) division introduced its new iOS Hardening Solution and an AI-powered anti-cheat framework for extraction shooters. These technologies address platform-level vulnerabilities and sophisticated cheating methods, aiming to foster fairer gaming environments. ACE also released a new guidebook on building secure game ecosystems.
Valve detail Steam Frame and Steam Machine Verified requirements at GDC 2026
Valve detailed the requirements for Steam Frame and Steam Machine Verified status at GDC 2026, with tweaked specifications compared to Steam Deck Verified. The Steam Machine Verified status expects 1080p at 30FPS, while the Steam Frame focuses on standalone play. Valve also addressed anti-cheat compatibility and the growing Linux desktop audience.
Marvel Rivals launches new "anti-throwing" tech with compensation for victims
Marvel Rivals is implementing new anti-throwing technology to combat deliberate sabotage within matches. The game will also provide compensation for players who are victims of such actions, including the return of lost ranked points.
Admittedly over the top WW1 shooter is out now, and it's the one time the question of an anti-cheat solution sounds ridiculous
A new third-person World War 1 shooter, featuring 200-player servers, has been released. The game's unique approach makes discussions about anti-cheat solutions seem less relevant.
Marvel Rivals Dev Threatens Players Who Are 'Maliciously Idling' or Intentionally Throwing Games, Acknowledges 'Disturbing Trend' in the Community - IGN
Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has announced a zero-tolerance policy against "incentivized throwing" and malicious idling, threatening permanent bans for players involved with external bounty systems. The developer is implementing a specialized investigation protocol to identify and penalize accounts engaging in disruptive behavior, emphasizing that maintaining a positive and fair gaming environment is a collective responsibility.
Danger Zone
Electronic Arts' Javelin anti-cheat system is expanding to Windows on ARM systems, with a new job listing indicating support for Nvidia's upcoming N1/N1X hardware. This move signifies a potential shift in PC gaming compatibility. Respawn Entertainment is also mentioned in relation to the ongoing development.
Trump Administration targets Tencent’s gaming dominance in security probe, according to reports
Reports indicate the Trump Administration is investigating Tencent's significant ownership of gaming companies as a potential security risk. This probe, focusing on Tencent's dominance and its ownership of entities like Riot Games and stakes in Epic Games, stems from concerns over kernel-level anti-cheat software and data security.
Call Of Duty players are 66 times more likely to cheat than Battlefield 6 fans
A study by Surfshark reveals that Call Of Duty players are 66 times more likely to search for cheats than Battlefield players. The analysis, based on global search volume, also highlights Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege as games with high interest in cheating. The study suggests that robust anti-cheat software may deter players from searching for hacks, and warns that high search volumes for cheats can pose cybersecurity risks.
Bungie says cheaters will be banned without a second chance in upcoming Marathon game
Bungie has announced a zero-tolerance policy for cheaters in its upcoming multiplayer shooter Marathon, stating that any player found cheating will be permanently banned without a second chance. The game will utilize authoritative dedicated servers and other security measures to ensure fair play, though an appeals process will be available for wrongly flagged players.
New Battlefield 6 Skips Ray Tracing, Developers Confirm Performance Focus - New Game Network
Battlefield 6 will launch without ray tracing to prioritize performance, with developers confirming the decision was made early in development. The game will also feature EA's Javelin anti-cheat, requiring Secure Boot and thus excluding Linux-based devices like the Steam Deck. Electronic Arts has detailed pricing and editions, with the standard version at $70 and a Phantom Edition at $100, and confirmed that microtransactions will be limited to cosmetics.
