Summary
A new anti-cheat update from Epic Games confirms thatFortniteplayers who have a lifetime ban that has been in effect for longer than a year will be given a “second chance,” as the studio says it will allow former cheaters to learn from their mistakes. Epic Games saysFortnitewill be moving to a new one-year matchmaking ban for first-time offenders in April, with second offenses then resulting in a lifetime ban.
Combating cheaters and hackers in live-service video games is a never-ending battle for developers and publishers, withFortnitebeing just one of the many AAA titles that regularly updates its anti-cheat systems and policies. While other Battle Royale games, such asCall of Duty: Warzone,continue to struggle in the war against cheaters, a recent report revealedFortnitehas one of the best anti-cheat softwarein gaming. WhileValoranttook the number one position,Battlefield 2042,Rainbow Six Siege, andThe Finalsalso made the top five.
Epic Games Gives Fortnite Cheaters a Second Chance
In a newblog post, Epic Games has announced some major changes to its anti-cheat policy. While the studio will continue totake legal action againstFortnitecheaters, the studio has now confirmed that any players with an existing lifetime cheating ban that has been in effect for more than a year will be lifted from April 2025. Epic Games says that maintaining game integrity is its top priority, but it also believes in “allowing second chances for players who made a bad decision and learned from it.” Its new policy will now see players receive a one-year matchmaking ban for first-time cheating offenses, followed by a lifetime ban for a second offense. Players who are on a one-year matchmaking ban will still be able to log in and text/voice chat, but will be unable to matchmake or spectate other players.
Those caughtcheating in aFortnitetournamentwill receive extra punishments. According to Epic Games, players who have used cheats and participate in tournaments will receive a one-year matchmaking ban, an immediate lifetime ban from tournaments, and a “potential” loss of past tournament winnings. This goes for those who have not previously offended, anyone caught cheating for a second time will automatically receive a lifetime ban, both in tournaments and the entirety ofFortnite. However, anyone who has previously cheated in tournaments will be able to matchmake in normal modes again starting in April, but they will still have a lifetime ban from tournaments.
The decision tounbanFortnitecheatersdoesn’t appear to have gone down well with the community. Over on Reddit, userFreshCTRLsays fans should “get ready for an influx of cheaters” until Epic once again bans them. UserVecnaterraalso shared a similar sentiment, questioning how the studio expects this decision to turn out well. “They’re literally creating more work for themselves,” the user said. The comments continue to flood in surrounding Epic’s surprise decision, with many calling it a horrible idea.
