Game Industry : Smart Cheats & Damage Cases
Krafton recently recorded its highest ever quarterly earnings, driven by the sustained popularity of PUBG and the success of its new title, "inZOI." As the gaming environment rapidly evolves, how can we ensure safer usage for everyone involved?
Today, let’s explore the key issues large game companies often face alongside real-world examples.
With millions of players worldwide, large scale game services are complex ecosystems that manage enormous volumes of data making them inherently high risk environments. In recent years, the gaming industry has moved beyond simply competing with content. Security, technical stability, and user trust have emerged as the core pillars of sustainable growth.
The threats facing game companies are diverse, but they generally fall into two major categories: security threats such as hacking and fraudulent users, and technical issues like server instability and client side vulnerabilities. These issues not only disrupt operations but can also lead to user churn and damage brand reputation.
Below, we’ve outlined the most common security and technical issues faced by major game companies.
1. Security and Fraudulent User Issues
Issue Type | Description |
|---|---|
Hacking & Breaches | Cases where internal servers or user accounts are compromised by attackers (e.g., data leaks, item theft). |
Fraudulent Users & Cheats | Increasing use of unfair programs like aimbots, wallhacks, and macros that undermine fair play. |
Account Theft & Phishing | Cases where user accounts are stolen or compromised through fake websites and phishing scams. |
2. Technical Problems
Issue Type | Description |
|---|---|
Server Downtime & Inaccessibility | Traffic surges during updates or launch days causing instability and access issues. |
Bugs & Errors | In-game system or balance issues that frustrate users. |
Client Vulnerabilities | Risks such as hacking, debugging, or reverse-engineering through the game client. |
Rising Threats of Cheating and Hacking in Large Scale Games
As the gaming industry has solidified its place in global entertainment, issues around fraudulent users have escalated. Game companies with millions of players are constantly exposed to risks like hacking, cheat software, and system exploitation. In response, their security strategies are evolving.
This first installment in our series focuses on real world cases of major game companies tackling such threats.
The More Popular the Game, the More Cheaters Appear
The battle royale hit “PUBG” maintained its global success with 3.2 million concurrent users in 2023. However, with that popularity came a surge in cheaters. In 2023 alone, Krafton detected and banned around 3.2 million fraudulent accounts—an increase of about 33% compared to the previous year.
This improvement reflects advancements in Krafton’s proprietary anti cheat system, “Zakynthos.” The company has steadily enhanced its defense mechanisms, including fixing client vulnerabilities, introducing stronger authentication methods like TTS and re verification, and developing a deep learning based cheat detection model.
Anti-cheat: Security software used primarily in online PC games to detect and block users who engage in unfair play using cheat tools.
Yet, even with these systems, some legitimate players are mistakenly flagged as cheaters. One example is WizzGod, a professional gamer from India, who was suspended for a week under cheating allegations despite clean gameplay. The incident sparked controversy within the community, with critics questioning the system’s ability to distinguish skill from foul play.
In addition, over 150 teams were disqualified from the BGIS 2023 season for using external software. Similar cases persisted into 2024, affecting teams like Five Filter Esports, INSTINCT OUTLIERS, Megastars Gaming, and TENSE Esports.
Cheating Isn’t Limited to PCs Mobile Platforms Are Also Affected
Krafton has also dealt with massive cheating issues on mobile platforms. In just one week, over 560,000 PUBG Mobile accounts were permanently banned for using illegal software. According to the official Twitter account, from the 3rd to the 10th of the month, 566,665 accounts and 9,310 devices were blocked, and 14,358 cheat-advertising posts were removed from platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
These bans included not just low tier players but also top ranking accounts in the Ace, Diamond, and Crown tiers. Notably, the most common cheat was the X-ray vision hack (48%), followed by auto-aim hacks (21%) and area damage hacks (20%).
To combat this, Krafton implemented real-time tracking within the game and expanded monitoring across external channels. Both users who use cheats and those involved in advertising or distributing them are now subject to permanent bans.
System Exploits and Abnormal Gameplay Behavior
Nexon’s looter shooter “The First Descendant” also faced issues with in game system exploitation. One case involved a gold farming route known as “Balby Run,” where players took advantage of abnormal monster respawn and cooldown bugs to gain excessive rewards.
Nexon categorized the activity as “abnormal gameplay behavior” and issued warnings but failed to clearly define enforcement standards, leading to confusion within the player base. While the company later announced difficulty adjustments to the content and apologized for the lack of communication, its vague stance favoring “respect and adjustment” rather than outright deletion fueled further distrust.
This incident revealed how system exploitation can lead to widespread unfairness among players, extending beyond simple bug abuse.
Fraudulent Behavior is Becoming More Sophisticated
As shown by the Krafton and Nexon cases, cheating has evolved beyond basic hacks and bots. Modern fraudulent users now engage in more intricate forms of misconduct, including account theft, system exploitation, bug abuse, and bypassing detection. Even highly skilled players can be caught up in this web.
Moreover, technical responses alone are not enough. Without clear standards and transparent communication, it’s difficult for game companies to build trust with their communities. Only through a combination of robust systems and open dialogue can a fair and safe gaming environment be achieved.
In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore how game companies with global audiences address security threats and examine what real-world damage from cheating can look like.
