In a resolute stance against cheating and disruptive behavior, Blizzard, the creators of Overwatch 2, have implemented a “zero-tolerance policy” and have issued bans to more than 250,000 players since the game’s launch.
In a comprehensive update shared on their official website, the development team outlined their extensive efforts to combat disruptive behavior, cheating, as well as chat-related issues that can adversely affect the gaming experience across various multiplayer titles, including Overwatch 2.
The team shared, “We’ve undertaken significant measures to deter and eliminate disruptive behavior and cheating and are eager to provide further insights into our initiatives.” They introduced ‘Defense Matrix’ as the collective term for their comprehensive strategy aimed at curbing cheating, disruptive chat, and griefing, which often plague multiplayer games like Overwatch 2.
These endeavors represent the collaborative work of a dedicated task force comprising developers, researchers, and community experts. Their mission is to enhance existing systems while exploring innovative approaches to counteract disruptive conduct.
The update emphasized two core principles that guide the anti-cheat team’s efforts: “Fair is Fun,” promoting a positive player experience where everyone competes on a level playing field, and “Safe and Inclusive Social Experience,” preventing and discouraging disruptive and undesirable behaviors among players.
Highlighting their commitment to maintaining a fair gaming environment, the update declared, “Cheaters are never fun to play with, and we have a zero-tolerance policy for cheating and botting in Overwatch 2. Since the game’s launch, we have identified and banned over 250,000 accounts due to cheating.”
Over 250,000 Cheaters have been penalized in #Overwatch2 ????
The team took action against thousands more for grouping up with cheaters, and they are actively addressing inappropriately named custom games and BattleTags.
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— Overwatch Cavalry (@OWCavalry) September 8, 2023
The team remains vigilant in refining their anti-cheat detection and prevention systems to fortify the game against cheating and botting. They encourage players to continue reporting any suspicious activity, as these reports play a vital role in identifying new cheat programs and cheating players.
Additionally, the update revealed plans to enhance text chat functionality. Regardless of the chosen filter, the team stressed that directing disruptive chat toward other players is unacceptable in any language. Consequently, they will be removing the Unfiltered chat option entirely, as it allowed harmful language and phrases that are incompatible with their community standards.
The update also addressed the dynamic nature of online culture and language, urging players to report instances of offensive language that may bypass filters or use altered and misspelled text to circumvent them.
Furthermore, as part of their promotional efforts for Overwatch 2’s upcoming update, “Invasion,” the collaboration between John Cena and Blizzard has garnered attention. Cena has been working with the developer to create intriguing teasers about the new content, even ‘interrupting’ streams from some of the community’s most prominent content creators.
Lastly, Blizzard acknowledged the impact of ‘review bombers’ on Overwatch 2, attributing the dissatisfaction to the cancellation of a substantial PvE component that was initially announced in 2019 but couldn’t be delivered as planned.”
