Cheating is becoming a serious problem.

@ug-omnipotent Rare won’t comment on the work they’re doing as not to tip off the cheaters. Have faith, let them do their job, and report people when you have proof they’re cheating. Simple.

Well said.

I don't think anyone has any doubt that Rare hate to see this happening and would love to be able to prevent it. But the reality is that cheaters like this are dominating the game and becoming much more prominent in the daily experience of the game.

Transparency on how it's being handled can be difficult for Devs without giving the cheat-devs a heads up on how it will be dealt with, therefore giving them a heads up on how to find new ways to get around barriers. However, radio silence on the topic as a whole is increasingly frustrating. Especially when this is the big thing happening on SoT Twitch in the last few days and we are simultaneously just seeing posts from Devs about their new reveal this weekend. Obviously those reveals were scheduled and there was nothing to be done about the timing, we understand that fully, but it's still a bit tone deaf to be hyping up the future content when this is the current reality of the game...

This is one of the topics the pvp/sweaty side of the community has been trying to raise and the lack of communication back to us has been frustrating. I don't support the use of cheats whatsoever, it's awful to see players repeatedly getting away with this. But if there is to be silver lining here, it's that this particular situation on Twitch with that amount of viewers is putting a spotlight on this harsh reality of the game which surely makes it harder to be ignored.

Let's hope something can be done about it soon.

@tesiccl
I think at this point there isnt any faith. It is acknowledged by Rare within the podcast that it is a "War of Attrition" but cheaters are seriously winning the war.

Rainbow Six Siege shows a high level of interest in combating the issue which can be seen here:

RAINBOW SIX SIEGE - UNDERSTANDING ANTI-CHEAT

Anti-Cheat can be a complex subject to talk about, so we've put together a primer on what exactly that entails on Siege, as well as some steps for the future.

Halo Infinite also shows a high level of interest in combating their issues with cheaters here:

343 INDUSTRIES

Closer Look: Halo Infinite’s Anti-Cheat Strategy

<p>Today we’re taking a closer look at an important topic for any online multiplayer game – anti-cheat. To do so, we sat down with members of our PC, Security, and Safety teams to answer common community questions about Halo Infinite’s anti-cheat, discuss our overall approach, speak to what the...

Valorant uses Riot Vanguard to handle cheaters and works amazingly most of the time:

What is Vanguard?

Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ custom game security software, designed to uphold the highest levels of competitive integrity for our offerings. Riot Vanguard consists of a client that runs while VALO...

There are also some games that support restoring ELO/Cash lost due to cheaters. If you lose something to a cheater within Sea of Thieves its game over. Your work is gone. Many other games announce their work towards countering cheating and I think it would be a good time for a change in the right way.

@ug-omnipotent other companies might do it, but Rare have made the choice not to comment on it and I support their logic.

Keep the faith, it’ll be worth it in the end.

@lordqulex

If you'd been paying attention you'll see them dropping kegs on all random ships on the server along with the ship they're fighting in hourglass. This isn't just a pvp/hourglass issue

@lordqulex

Part of the issue as that most cheats are so well disguised that you won't even realize they're using them against you.
There's also lots of cheating tools that are intended to help pve and would also appeal to players looking to use them in order to avoid pvp. It's a hot mess.

Title: Enhancing Fair Play: The Imperative for an Anti-Cheat System in Sea of Thieves

Introduction:
Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare and published by Microsoft, is an immersive and exhilarating multiplayer game that allows players to embark on epic pirate adventures. However, the game's open-world nature and cooperative gameplay can sometimes be marred by the presence of cheaters who exploit vulnerabilities, disrupting fair competition and compromising the overall player experience. This essay argues that the implementation of an anti-cheat system, or an upgraded version of the existing one, is necessary to ensure a level playing field and maintain the integrity of Sea of Thieves.

1. Upholding Fairness and Competitive Integrity:
   An anti-cheat system serves as the guardian of fairness and ensures that all players abide by the game's rules and regulations. By preventing cheaters from gaining unfair advantages, the anti-cheat system promotes a balanced and enjoyable experience for all participants. It eliminates the frustration and discouragement caused by encountering cheaters, allowing players to focus on the genuine challenges and rewards that the game offers.

2. Preserving Player Trust and Retention:
   Cheating not only disrupts fair competition but also erodes trust among the player base. When players encounter cheaters, their faith in the game's integrity diminishes, leading to negative perceptions and potential attrition. By implementing an anti-cheat system, the developers can demonstrate their commitment to fostering a healthy and trustworthy gaming environment. This, in turn, bolsters player retention, as individuals are more likely to invest time and resources in a game where their efforts are recognized and protected.

3. Safeguarding the In-Game Economy:
   Sea of Thieves encompasses an intricate in-game economy that revolves around the acquisition of valuable treasures and resources. Cheaters can destabilize this delicate balance by generating an excessive amount of in-game currency, items, or progression, thereby devaluing the achievements of legitimate players. An effective anti-cheat system can mitigate such exploits, ensuring that the in-game economy remains intact and reflective of genuine effort and skill.

4. Fostering a Positive Community Environment:
   Multiplayer games thrive on healthy and vibrant communities. Cheating disrupts the social fabric of Sea of Thieves, leading to increased toxicity and negative interactions. By employing an upgraded anti-cheat system, the developers actively cultivate an inclusive and supportive community. This discourages cheating and encourages players to collaborate, cooperate, and engage in meaningful interactions, enriching the overall gaming experience for everyone involved.

5. Encouraging Long-Term Development and Support:
   The implementation of an anti-cheat system showcases the dedication of developers towards continuously improving the game and addressing player concerns. It reassures the player base that the developers are committed to the long-term success of Sea of Thieves and are actively working to create a fair and enjoyable environment. By fostering player trust and satisfaction, an upgraded anti-cheat system promotes ongoing support, updates, and expansions, ensuring the longevity of the game.

Conclusion:
The inclusion of an anti-cheat system, or an improved version of the existing one, in Sea of Thieves is imperative to preserve fair play, maintain competitive integrity, and foster a positive gaming environment. Such a system not only safeguards the player experience from cheaters but also demonstrates the developers' commitment to fostering a trustworthy and thriving community. By prioritizing the implementation of an anti-cheat system, Sea of Thieves can continue to be a captivating and immersive multiplayer adventure for players worldwide.

Produced by Chat GBT

@mscodezy said in Cheating is becoming a serious problem.:

Title: Enhancing Fair Play: The Imperative for an Anti-Cheat System in Sea of Thieves

Introduction:
Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare and published by Microsoft, is an immersive and exhilarating multiplayer game that allows players to embark on epic pirate adventures. However, the game's open-world nature and cooperative gameplay can sometimes be marred by the presence of cheaters who exploit vulnerabilities, disrupting fair competition and compromising the overall player experience. This essay argues that the implementation of an anti-cheat system, or an upgraded version of the existing one, is necessary to ensure a level playing field and maintain the integrity of Sea of Thieves.

1. Upholding Fairness and Competitive Integrity:
   An anti-cheat system serves as the guardian of fairness and ensures that all players abide by the game's rules and regulations. By preventing cheaters from gaining unfair advantages, the anti-cheat system promotes a balanced and enjoyable experience for all participants. It eliminates the frustration and discouragement caused by encountering cheaters, allowing players to focus on the genuine challenges and rewards that the game offers.

2. Preserving Player Trust and Retention:
   Cheating not only disrupts fair competition but also erodes trust among the player base. When players encounter cheaters, their faith in the game's integrity diminishes, leading to negative perceptions and potential attrition. By implementing an anti-cheat system, the developers can demonstrate their commitment to fostering a healthy and trustworthy gaming environment. This, in turn, bolsters player retention, as individuals are more likely to invest time and resources in a game where their efforts are recognized and protected.

3. Safeguarding the In-Game Economy:
   Sea of Thieves encompasses an intricate in-game economy that revolves around the acquisition of valuable treasures and resources. Cheaters can destabilize this delicate balance by generating an excessive amount of in-game currency, items, or progression, thereby devaluing the achievements of legitimate players. An effective anti-cheat system can mitigate such exploits, ensuring that the in-game economy remains intact and reflective of genuine effort and skill.

4. Fostering a Positive Community Environment:
   Multiplayer games thrive on healthy and vibrant communities. Cheating disrupts the social fabric of Sea of Thieves, leading to increased toxicity and negative interactions. By employing an upgraded anti-cheat system, the developers actively cultivate an inclusive and supportive community. This discourages cheating and encourages players to collaborate, cooperate, and engage in meaningful interactions, enriching the overall gaming experience for everyone involved.

5. Encouraging Long-Term Development and Support:
   The implementation of an anti-cheat system showcases the dedication of developers towards continuously improving the game and addressing player concerns. It reassures the player base that the developers are committed to the long-term success of Sea of Thieves and are actively working to create a fair and enjoyable environment. By fostering player trust and satisfaction, an upgraded anti-cheat system promotes ongoing support, updates, and expansions, ensuring the longevity of the game.

Conclusion:
The inclusion of an anti-cheat system, or an improved version of the existing one, in Sea of Thieves is imperative to preserve fair play, maintain competitive integrity, and foster a positive gaming environment. Such a system not only safeguards the player experience from cheaters but also demonstrates the developers' commitment to fostering a trustworthy and thriving community. By prioritizing the implementation of an anti-cheat system, Sea of Thieves can continue to be a captivating and immersive multiplayer adventure for players worldwide.

Produced by Chat GBT

-1 downvote for the fact it was written by a bot. Trash.

@tesiccl That isn’t the point, though. All of the arguments highlighted are problematic for everyone in the community. I could write out an entire essay myself, but the fact of the matter is this needs to happen. If I bot can come up with logical reason for an improved anti-cheat system, I think change is warranted. This is idea that player reports is illogical. Reporting people in SoT is hard to get to, takes too long to write a simple report and gather evidence, and half the time, genuine reports are ignored and false bans are all too common. An improved anti-chat would require less staff to manage reports and uses in-game data as evidence rather than players having to record their evidence. This is one of many ways I could argue the implementation of this idea.

player reports are enough

@lordqulex said in Cheating is becoming a serious problem.:

So... I don't really know how to best say what I want to say, so bear with my rambling here.

When arena was retired, it was retired because less than 3% of player time was spent in it. In my experience, hourglass lately has been dominated by the same players in any given region. I know when I play it I encounter the same half dozen ships or so. So like, let's be real here, an overwhelming majority of players are not participating in hourglass. And as long as the cheaters remain contained in hourglass... I'm not sure how many resources Rare cares to commit to combating cheaters there.

The reason why cheaters are rampant in hourglass is because player interaction is guaranteed so the efficacy of their trolling is maximized. When you set sail in adventure mode, you could sail for hours and not see another ship. That's why you don't really see cheaters in adventure mode: there's no guarantee you'll get to troll anyone.

Adventure mode is their bread and butter. Basically, as long as the cheaters stay contained to hourglass, it doesn't effect 90%+ of the player base.

Cheaters are no reliant on hourglass for player interaction. They can see your name from anywhere from the map and just fly to you.

I used to think that the scale of cheating is somewhat exxagerated up until saturday, when I met flying kegmans twice in one day.

The reason you dont see them as much in adventure as hourglass is because servers still have a player cap and even cheaters have to go trough with server hopping.

Surprised a Mod hasn't locked this yet.

Just report them, you clearly have the Evidence here and that all they need. Being Streamers, that should be a collection of names and such