There's nothing worse than running into a cheater in an online multiplayer game. Their deceitful ways can put a damper on even the best multiplayer experience. Unfortunately, the Outriders demo also has its fair share of cheaters. However, both Square-Enix and People Can Fly are combating the issue in an unconventional way.
Outriders developer People Can Fly released a detailed blog post on Steam that dives into its unique anti-cheating policy. Instead of banning cheaters from playing Outriders or its demo, dishonest players will be separated from rule-abiding gamers during matchmaking, possibly extending their wait time. They will also be branded with a small but noticeable mark on the game's HUD that will alert others of their dishonest past.
The harsh yet reasonable anti-cheating policy veers away from the traditional ban-heavy guidelines taken on by similar multiplayer titles. Putting a permanent blemish on a cheaters account while separating them from the rule-abiding players seems more reasonable than banning them entirely. Although the terms seem a bit lax compared to other anti-cheating policies, it punishes cheaters by severely hindering their experience instead of taking them completely out of the game, paving a path to redemption.
People Can Fly is giving cheaters a second chance before transitioning them to the full game. Deceitful players will need to delete all their characters and inventory to avoid being cast out upon launch. Going into Outriders with a clean slate is the only way People Can Fly can guarantee no hacked items or experience points make their way into the finished product. While the redemption process in the full game remains unclear, gamers assume the repercussions will be equally severe as they were in the demo.
It's important to know what People Can Fly views as cheating. The blog post outlines what the developer looks for when it cracks down on dishonest players. It centers around modifying the game's files and using certain programs to give them an advantage in-game. People Can Fly doesn't categorize loot farming and other meticulous strategies as cheating. Players can still grind their way to the top as long as they don't hack or use specific programs to enhance their abilities or monetary gain.
Outriders seems to be coming together quite nicely. Its unorthodox anti-cheating policy appears to solve the demo's cheating issues in a hash but reasonable fashion. Separating cheaters from rule-abiding players while highlighting their disreputable past is a welcomed alternative to banning them entirely. It tackles the problem head-on instead of patching the issue with a short ban. It will be interesting to see if People Can Fly's unique policy will discourage cheating or if its lax conditions make it run rampant. Gamers won't have to wait too much longer to see the policy in action as Outrider's April 1st launch steadily approaches.
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