The developers of Overwatch 2 have recently declared that they will be taking swift action against console players who have been using third-party peripherals to gain an unfair advantage by playing with a mouse and keyboard.
The Overwatch 2 console community has long been battling against unscrupulous players who utilize mouse and keyboard adapters, like XIMs, to gain an unfair edge over others.
Despite utilizing the built-in aim assist feature on the console version, these M&K players have been able to maintain their dominance due to their more precise control. The developers have been teasing action for months, but it was only recently that they finally implemented it.
In a blog post released on April 18, it was revealed that the team had been collecting information over the past few seasons and is now prepared to take action.
“Although we will not disclose the specific methods we use to detect these devices, our detection measures have been implemented for multiple seasons and have been passively collecting data for analysis,”the developers disclosed.
It was clarified that unapproved peripherals are frequently utilized in top-level console gaming. In the coming weeks, permanent account bans will be issued to the most egregious offenders.
Blizzard has stated that in order to avoid a ban, individuals must immediately stop using third-party apps. There will be no further warnings given.
Once Season 11 begins in a couple of months, a new system for detecting cheating will be implemented. If a player is found to be using a mouse and keyboard, they will receive a one-week ban from Competitive play. In the case of repeated offenses, they will be unable to participate in ranked matches for the remainder of the season and will only be able to join Quick Play games with other mouse and keyboard users.
The developers have also mentioned that the team is currently considering the option of implementing official mouse and keyboard support, as well as allowing console players to participate in ranked matches alongside PC users without receiving any additional aim assist assistance.
It remains to be seen how the new detection and ban systems will perform, especially given the ongoing controversy surrounding OW2 suspensions. Recent incidents of players being unjustly banned have caused concern, but if these updates prove to be successful, they may help regain some of the trust that has been lost among players.
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