A recent video from YouTuber g0at sparked controversy in the Escape from Tarkov community over the perceived prevalence of hackers and cheaters. After days of backlash, Battlestate Games shared a statement to Reddit reassuring players that fighting hacking is one of the studio’s top priorities.
But are they doing enough?
Battlestate Games’ Anti-Hacking Policy
Despite its best efforts, Escape from Tarkov isn’t immune to the problem of cheaters. While this isn’t an unusual situation for any competitive shooter, the developer, and its community seem to continually struggle to keep it in check.
Whenever a new scandal arises, Battlestate’s responses are almost always the same: more-or-less the same reassurances that they take this issue seriously and a request for players to report any cheaters they find. Unfortunately, this formulaic approach has left many of the game’s biggest fans feeling unconvinced.
A trust that players have in the developers. It doesn’t address the root of the problem.
One way is by using a proxy server, which allows them to play the game without being detected by the servers. However, these services can be easily spoofed and aren’t effective against determined cheaters.
Another way is by using third-party software that bypasses the game’s hardware bans. This isn’t a particularly effective solution as most cheaters are willing to put in the time and effort needed to make their hardware compatible with the game, but it does give them a chance to continue playing as long as they want.
Finally, there’s the financial incentive that cheaters have to keep playing. As a commenter named Gigabeef points out, if they’re able to earn real money from their efforts, it will become much harder for them to give up. In this case, getting banned is simply “a cost of doing business.”
Ultimately, it’s up to Battlestate Games to find more effective ways to deal with the cheating issue. For example, the studio could use AI-based systems and more robust hardware bans to create a fairer experience for all players. With more effective anti-cheat measures, the developer can ensure that its players are able to enjoy Escape from Tarkov without fear of being cheated.
VOIP Threats
Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore first-person action RPG/simulator/role-playing game with MMO features, developed by Russian Saint-Petersburg-based company Battlestate Games. It is set in the fictional Norvinsk Special Economic Zone between 2015 and 2026 after political scandal and collapse of corporations have turned it into a ruined metropolis where gangs of belligerent locals, known as “scavs”, rule over different sections of the city.
They can also use a VoIP system to rack up large phone bills by calling premium numbers and recording messages that ask callers to answer them. These automated calls can cause people to incur toll charges that the criminals cut off.
Another common cyber threat to VoIP is phishing, which involves hackers impersonating legitimate institutional representatives to gain access to secure systems and customer data. Often, these scammers then blackmail businesses and their customers by demanding money in exchange for the stolen information..
The Wiggle That Killed Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov is a gripping and exciting extraction shooter, with a punishing difficulty curve that provides players with a real challenge. Unfortunately, this also makes it an attractive target for cheaters, as the game’s popularity gives rise to a community that has become adept at using hacking software to give themselves an edge over their fellow players.
The problem hit a head this weekend when YouTuber goat released a video detailing just how prevalent cheating in Escape from Tarkov is. In the video, g0at used his own cheat tools to expose players that were using aimbots and wallhacks. To do so, he rapidly shimmied his character left and right as he played the game. When he did this, According to skycheats.com players that were using EFT Cheats with Aimbot would often wiggle back in return – a confirmation that they were, indeed, using the software.
g0at’s discovery was widely shared and caused an outcry in the Escape from the Tarkov Reddit community, with many players claiming that Battlestate Games does not do enough to prevent cheating. After several days of backlash, Battlestate Games took to Reddit to explain the measures it has taken to address the issue and reiterated its commitment to eradicating cheating in Escape from Tarkov.
The developer has made a few changes to its anti-cheat system, including a public list of banned players and increased scrutiny of the game’s radar to help identify cheaters. But while these steps are certainly positive, the company has yet to find a way to stop cheating in its entirety.
Despite these efforts, it appears that Escape from Tarkov’s player base has been significantly shaken by the cheating scandal. While popular YouTubers like Pestily and General Sam remain committed to the game, there is a general sense of skepticism in the player base that the problem won’t be solved.
Hopefully, this scepticism will disperse as the game continues to evolve and Battlestate Games puts its best foot forward in addressing the issue. The developer is clearly aware of the magnitude of the problem and has promised to ban cheaters, but until it finds a way to prevent cheating entirely, interest in Escape from Tarkov may continue to wane.
The Battle of Cheaters
Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore online first-person shooter that’s popular on Twitch and other gaming platforms. Developed by Russian Saint Petersburg-based Battlestate Games, it’s a realistic extraction raid shooter set in the fictional special economic zone of Norvinsk on the border between Europe and Russia. The game is known for its tense, immersive atmosphere and its challenging, exhilarating gameplay. It’s not for everyone, though, and many players find themselves struggling with the game.
Cheaters are nothing new in the world of online gaming, but they’re a real problem in Escape from Tarkov and they’re frustrating many players. They’re mainly found on high-tier loot maps like The Lab and The Lighthouse, and they use a variety of different methods to cheat in the game. One YouTuber, g0at, recently claimed that he encountered “obvious” cheaters in around 60 percent of the 125 online raids he played.
The video shows him playing a match on the game’s PvE map, The Lab, against a player who appears to be using an aimbot and other cheating tools. The nimble player is taking down enemies with ease and blowing off their limbs with impressive precision. There’s no doubt that the player is using an aimbot, as well as a range of other cheating programs including movement prediction, bone prioritization, auto-switch, and more.
While the hacker’s methods may not be illegal in some countries, they are certainly frustrating to other players and can ruin the game experience for the whole community. In addition, the use of VOIP to threaten and harass other players is against the rules of the game. Thankfully, Battlestate Games and BattlEye have been able to detect some of the most advanced cheating software and ban it. In the future, the company plans to further strengthen its anti-cheat measures by introducing more detection algorithms and naming and shaming cheaters. It’s clear that the war against Escape from Tarkov cheaters is only just beginning.
