Overwatch 2 anti-cheat going after hackers' party members

Olivia Richman Published 09/09/2023

If you play Overwatch 2 with cheaters, you may be the next to be banned.

Overwatch 2 is not alone when it comes to having a massive hacker problem. Most popular games have fallen victim to countless cheaters that anti-cheat can’t seem to keep up with, including Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Overwatch 2.

In a blog post posted this week, Blizzard announced that it would continue to fight cheaters by also banning people who play along with cheaters “in an attempt to benefit from the cheating.”

Overwatch 2 devs looking to ramp up anti-cheat

While Blizzard has banned over 250,000 cheaters since the game launched, this hasn’t been enough to protect players from cheaters that ruin the integrity of competitive matches.

To combat this, Blizzard’s anti-cheat will now also ban players who knowingly play in parties with hackers. Developers didn’t explain how they would go about enforcing this, but they did ask players to continue reporting any suspicious behavior they see in-game.

Some hacks are harder to detect than others, but in general, players are using aimbots and hacks that let them see through walls. If someone seems like they are too quick to react to an incoming opponent or they get a lot of suspicious headshots, you may be dealing with a hacker.

Once you report a hacker, Blizzard’s team will look into the complaint and ban anyone who shows proof of using hacks. And now, Blizzard will also be banning anyone who plays alongside them.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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