From July 12 to July 18, 2024, PUBG Mobile took strong measures against cheating by permanently banning 366,402 accounts and 16,338 devices. This action is part of their ongoing efforts to maintain a fair gaming environment. Additionally, during the same period, the company removed 501 online advertisements promoting cheats, which had amassed a significant following and viewership of 269,483.
PUBG Mobile, developed by Krafton, faces a continuous battle against cheaters. Every week, the PUBG: Battlegrounds Anti-Cheat Team bans between 60,000 to 100,000 accounts for cheating. Despite these efforts, players often still encounter cheaters in the game. This persistent problem has led Krafton to adopt more sophisticated measures, including the use of artificial intelligence to detect and ban cheaters more effectively.
The majority of banned accounts fall into two categories: hijacked accounts and those exploiting the Survival Mastery Level system. Hijacked accounts are often older accounts that cheaters obtain through illicit means and use for their activities. The Survival Mastery Level system is another avenue for cheaters, who use macros to level up accounts quickly and sell them once they reach the required level to participate in ranked matches.
To address these issues, Krafton has developed machine learning models that can identify patterns of cheating. This has led to a significant increase in the number of banned accounts. The introduction of these models has tripled the number of bans compared to previous methods. Krafton is continuously refining these models to enhance their accuracy and effectiveness.
🚨 #PUBGMOBILE #BanPan Report 🚨
From 7/12 to 7/18, we permanently suspended 366,402 accounts & 16,338 devices.
During week 28, we removed 501 online cheat ads with 269,483 followers & views.https://t.co/N1UiNKhd68 online cheat ads!https://t.co/EhqoDPrWcC pic.twitter.com/rqLg7kxXa3
— PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) July 21, 2024
In addition to banning accounts, Krafton is focusing on disrupting the supply chain of accounts used for cheating. By targeting the sources of these accounts, they aim to reduce the overall prevalence of cheating in the game. This approach includes monitoring and shutting down vendors who sell leveled-up accounts and using AI to detect new forms of abuse that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Krafton urges players to secure their accounts to prevent hijacking. For Steam users, they recommend setting up the Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator. Ensuring account security is a critical step in combating cheaters who rely on hijacked accounts to continue their activities.
The ongoing battle against cheaters in PUBG Mobile highlights the challenges faced by developers in maintaining a fair and enjoyable gaming environment. Despite the significant number of bans each week, the presence of cheaters remains a concern for many players. Krafton’s efforts to implement advanced detection methods and disrupt the supply of cheating accounts show their commitment to addressing this issue. By continuously improving their anti-cheat measures, they aim to provide a better gaming experience for all players.
