Overwatch has been grappling with cheaters since its inception, and in 2022, Blizzard launched its specialized 'Defense Matrix' anti-cheat initiative to combat hackers directly.
This anti-cheat system has undergone continuous improvements, and the development team reports that they've been actively addressing cheating on a weekly basis. For instance, in April 2023 alone, they banned 100,000 players.
In their most recent update, Blizzard revealed that they've banned over 250,000 Overwatch 2 accounts as a result of their ongoing investigations into unscrupulous players.
Why Were 250,000 Overwatch 2 Bans Issued?
Blizzard stated that these Overwatch 2 players were banned for engaging in cheating and botting activities. Their aim is to "combat cheating at its source."
Additionally, the developers disclosed that they've also suspended and banned thousands of players who were clearly collaborating with cheaters. These individuals actively teamed up with hackers to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
The updated anti-cheat system has proven effective during regional tests, and it will soon be rolled out worldwide. Furthermore, Blizzard has committed to addressing issues related to inappropriately named custom games and 'BattleTags' in future Defense Matrix updates.
Overwatch 2 initially faced a range of challenges, including a massive DDoS attack on its launch day that resulted in server disconnections. Players also encountered difficulties loading the game and numerous other errors during its early days.
Overall, Overwatch 2 and Blizzard have made significant progress in curbing cheating since the introduction of their anti-cheat initiative. This has greatly improved the fairness of play for the game's dedicated fans.
The developers are also planning significant competitive changes and are open to the possibility of Overwatch 1's Skill Rating (SR) returning in the future.
