Fortnite's New Anti-Cheat Will Give Cheaters A Second Chance

Summary

Normally, in video games, when you’re caught cheating, you’re almost instantaneously banned. Such has been the case inBlack Ops 6, witha reported 19,000-plus bans for bad actors. As has been the case inMarvel Rivals, which beganterminating games mid-match if a cheater was detected.

In other words, if you’re caught cheating,the consequences are instant and almost always harsh. That said,Fortnitewill begin tackling cheating in a new way — through forgiveness.In a new anti-cheat update shared on Thursday, the live-service title will begin offering players a second chance to right their wrongs.

Don’t Make Us Regret This

As part of a larger status update on the stateof all things cheating, hacking and general all-around bad activities, Fortnite shared its steps towards offering players a second chance.

“While maintaining game integrity is our top priority, we also believe in allowing second chances for players who made a bad decision and have learned from it,” the subhead read.

Beginning in April, first-time cheaters will experience a one-year matchmaking ban if they’re caught cheating. The decision will allow “former cheaters to learn from their mistakes while still punishing and deterring cheating.” Though, if they’re caught a second time, an automatic lifetime ban will be put into effect.

Because the first-time punishment is a matchmaking ban, Fortnite states that offenders will still be able to participate in text and voice-based communication. You just won’t be able to matchmake or spectate, at least allowing groups of friends to still be together, even if they can’t actually play. With the new changes going into effect in roughly one month’s time, Epic made it a point to state that those with existing lifetime bans will be reinstated.

While these changes apply to games at the multiplayer level, those who use cheats and participate in tournaments will receive a lifetime tournament ban. They may also be subject to a loss of winnings. And if someone is caught selling cheats or breaking some other rule, then it’s a zero-tolerance lifetime ban.

At the end of its announcement, Fortnite explicitly wrote that “Additional consequences may include legal repercussions.” Those words shouldn’t be taken lightlyas a player who was caught cheating at a tournament was recently named, shamed and sued. Thatsame announcementalso detailed a separate playerwho’s been sued for stealing and reselling accounts. In other words, if you mess around, you will find out.