The Division Now Permabans Cheaters On First Offence

Civilization may have fallen in The Division [official site], New York ruled by might alone, but that's no reason to be a dick about it. So Ubisoft have decided to crack down harder on cheaters. Previously, people who got caught using cheats would be suspended for fourteen days for their first offence. Now, Ubisoft are going straight to permabans. Get caught cheating once and you're gone. A speedhack may help you push other players around, shaking them-upside down until XP and murdercoins rain from their shorts pockets, but it's not much use against an admin with a banhammer.

Ubi explained yesterday that their most recent justice spree saw them take actions against over 30,000 accounts, including 3,800 permanent bans. "This led to a significantly improved experience, particularly in the Dark Zone," they say. But it's not enough. Once you get a taste for justice, you want more justice, tougher justice, rougher justice. They continue:

"Following this campaign of suspensions and bans, it also became clear that while huge progress has been made in terms of cheat detection, our 14 days suspension on first offense policy has not been dissuasive enough. Judging from your feedback, and based on what we witnessed when cheaters came back to the game, we have now decided to push our policy one step further: we will now start applying permanent bans on first offense when players are caught using cheat engines and we will communicate clearly when new ban waves are taking place.

"We are committed to constantly improve your experience in the game, and this begins with ensuring a positive and fair environment free of noxious players willingly violating the rules. We will take all steps necessary to track down cheaters and make sure they cannot spoil your enjoyment of the game."

That's pretty tough, and I approve (assuming their process doesn't have a big problem with false positives or that they deal well with appeals). Heck, before the fourteen-day suspension, The Division only suspended cheaters for three days for their first offence before escalating to a permanent ban for the second. It's nice that they're taking it more seriously.

Ubi have also started going straight to permabans in Rainbow Six: Siege. Tough justice today on the mean streets of the Information Superhighway.