Summary
- Epic Games is giving banned Fortnite players a "second chance" starting in April.
- Those who currently have a lifetime ban that has been in effect for longer than a year will be unbanned later this year.
- From April, first time offenders will be hit with a one-year matchmaking ban, followed by a lifetime ban for second offenses.
A new anti-cheat update from Epic Games confirms that Fortnite players 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 says Fortnite will 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, with Fortnite being just one of the many AAA titles that regularly updates its anti-cheat systems and policies. While other Battle Royale games, such as Call of Duty: Warzone, continue to struggle in the war against cheaters, a recent report revealed Fortnite has one of the best anti-cheat software in gaming. While Valorant took the number one position, Battlefield 2042, Rainbow Six Siege, and The Finals also made the top five.
Was Fortnite Really Better Back in Chapter 1 or Is It the Nostalgia Speaking?
I was very excited when Epic Games announced Season OG. However, when it actually came out, I didn't play it as much as I expected to - the same goes for the release of Fortnite Reload. I'm not sure if it's because I don't have as much free time as I did back when Chapter 1 was actually live, but I don't think that's the case because I mostly play the standard Fortnite Battle Royale game mode when I want to have some fun with the game.
Epic Games Gives Fortnite Cheaters a Second Chance
In a new blog post, Epic Games has announced some major changes to its anti-cheat policy. While the studio will continue to take legal action against Fortnite cheaters, 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 caught cheating in a Fortnite tournament will 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 of Fortnite. 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 to unban Fortnite cheaters doesn't appear to have gone down well with the community. Over on Reddit, user FreshCTRL says fans should "get ready for an influx of cheaters" until Epic once again bans them. User Vecnaterra also 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.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- September 26, 2017
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Epic Games
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
