Blizzard bans 1m accounts for cheating since Overwatch 2 launch

Blizzard Leisure has shared that in its efforts to maintain Overwatch 2 truthful, it has banned over 1m accounts for dishonest because the hero shooter launched again in 2023.

The milestone was reached partially by reviewing over 23,000 accounts taking part in with unauthorised third-party peripherals. Following this achievement, Blizzard has launched new tech in Season 18 to additional safeguard the sport’s competitiveness.

Blizzard added that the 23,000 customers it took motion in opposition to both used unapproved peripherals, reminiscent of utilizing a mouse and keyboard on console swimming pools, in any other case often known as ximming, or have been grouped with a cheater.

The figures have been shared alongside the announcement of recent adjustments coming to Season 18. For the primary time within the sport’s lifespan, consoles obtained native mouse and keyboard assist and controllers. In mild of those adjustments, console gamers with mouse and keyboard have been moved to PC, and participant swimming pools have been renamed from PC & consoles to controller & mouse and keyboard.

As such, Blizzard Leisure guarantees to deal out ‘harsher penalties’ to gamers utilizing unapproved peripherals. Within the new season, accounts will probably be banned no matter rank or mode if caught dishonest.

Nevertheless, dishonest in Overwatch 2 extends past peripherals. Out of the 1m accounts banned, Blizzard Leisure notes instances together with aim-bots, wallhacks, amongst different types of dishonest within the sport. With the Season 18 replace, Overwatch 2 builders are actually geared up to identify cheaters ‘sooner and with extra reliability’.

Overwatch 2 has an unlimited esports ecosystem, together with the Overwatch Champions Sequence (OWCS), the place the smallest choice could make a huge effect for skilled rosters. Rolling out these adjustments will make sure that video games are decided by talent and teamwork versus technical benefits.

Nevertheless, OWCS, regardless of present process a number of adjustments over time, has all the time remained a PC unique occasion. Moreover, even with mouse and keyboard assist on consoles, the distinction within the {hardware}’s efficiency between the 2 platforms stays too nice.