Bungie is the latest online game developer to announce it starts with monitoring, warning and even banning Destiny 2 players who use controller-spoofing XIM hardware or similar to cheat. The company told The edge in February that it researched ways to combat cheaters, and now the policy draws a clear line on what’s not allowed. The move comes out just like other major online games Duty Unpleasant Overwatch, also use methods to try to detect the hardware and either tamper with it or outright ban players from using it.
In his blog post todayBungie notes that “remote assistants” are a problem that the community is frustrated with – while avoiding naming the devices so as not to put them in the spotlight.
The devices in question usually include the XIM, Cronus Zen, and ReaSnow S1. The third-party mouse and keyboard interfaces emulate a controller input, allowing users to take advantage of controller benefits that players have, such as aim assist, but with the added precision and movement capabilities you’d otherwise only get with a keyboard and mouse. They can also run scripts that improve aiming, rapid fire, or add other unfair advantages.
Bungie’s post states that the devices are “entering their rogue arc,” while noting that some devices can be an accessibility asset and that devices are explicitly used as accessibility tools to play Lot 2 “where a player could not otherwise play” would not be a violation. However, using it to reduce recoil, increase aim assist, or mitigate other challenges that are not as “the game designers intended” would be an offense.
Bungie embraces the use of third-party accessibility tools that enable an experience the game designers intended, but will take action, including bans, against people who specifically misuse those tools to gain an advantage over other players.
The company did not go into detail about how it will detect cheaters using its sometimes undetectable devices. For example, Activision uses its own Ricochet anti-cheat system to detect violations and suspends users or tampers with them by making opponents invincible. Meanwhile, Ubisoft created a system called Mousetrap that studied players’ movements and built a model to detect cheaters. The company will hand out penalties by slowly adding latency to the movements of suspected cheaters.
Bungie said in the blog that it will “evaluate all gameplay for violations,” not just PvP deathmatch-style gameplay, but also Destiny 2’s important co-operative PvE content, as the use of cheats can affect players and teams participating in World First Races.
