In competitive online gaming, cheating is a persistent issue that can ruin the experience for honest players, and for the worst, it always finds its way around through holes. Just like the other companies offering similar online games, Ubisoft has been actively working to combat this problem with their game Rainbow Six Siege.
One of their latest efforts is introducing the Cheater Match Cancellation feature, which was rolled out as part of the Y9S4.2 patch. This feature is designed to kick cheaters out of ongoing matches immediately and cancel the game to prevent unfair outcomes. But how does that affect the rest of the players?
Prevalence of Cheating
Cheating is a major problem in Rainbow Six Siege, as in many competitive FPS games.
While a precise percentage of players who reported cheating as a number one problem remains unknown, the fact that Ubisoft issued over 166,000 bans in the past year and a half shows that it’s a problem that requires constant vigilance. The community has been vocal about the need for stricter measures, as cheating can be frustrating and takes a lot of fun out of the game. As one Redditor noticed, out of 24 played games, 11 had a cheater in either a friendly or opposing team.
Introduction of the Feature
Match Cancellation for Cheaters was one of the latest additions to Ubisoft's anti-cheating policy in January 2025.
This was intended to level the playing field by resolving incidents of cheating while matches are in action rather than equalizing the points afterward, as is the practice. Once a cheater is detected, he gets immediately removed from the game, and the match is canceled to ensure no points are lost from the other players' side, keeping the competitive scene intact.
The whole process was meant to be seamless for other players without causing them to lose any progress or ranking points. Ubisoft added that it even applied a rollback for the player who queued with a cheater to protect the seasonal ranking.
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Player Reaction
Overall, the Cheater Match Cancellation feature is considered a positive step in dealing with the problem of cheating. This feature gives them immediate respite from such unfair matches, saves them from wasting their time in an already compromised game, and also sends a message that Ubisoft is serious about keeping its environment clean, a necessary ingredient for retaining players and maintaining the esports scene.
Community Feedback
This feature has been extremely well-received within the community. Many players liked the initiative to eliminate cheating from their games. However, a number of players have also raised concerns about false positives, although Ubisoft has made it clear that its enhanced detection system minimizes these. Perhaps a system similar to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s “Overwatch” could benefit this system and further minimize the chance for false positives, as other more experienced players would review cases and give their opinions.
Effect on the Gameplay:
The introduction of this feature does have a number of implications in terms of gameplay:
1.Fairness: The most important thing is fairness. By removing cheaters and canceling matches, Ubisoft ensures players are not unfairly penalized or disadvantaged by cheating opponents.
2. Player Experience: This feature enhances the general player experience because it reduces frustration and disappointment on the part of the players due to cheating. Players can enjoy the game with their minds clear, knowing they will not be cheated out of a win.
3. Community Trust: By being proactive in dealing with cheating, Ubisoft builds trust in the community. Players feel their voices are being heard and something is being done, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy and active player base.
Cheater Match Cancellation can be considered a big step in fighting cheating within the Rainbow Six Siege community. It instantly detects and removes cheaters from the match, making it more fair and enjoyable for all players, of course, leaving out the fact that the game ends right away, which some may find annoying, especially if it happens multiple times in a row. Features like this will be critical to maintaining the integrity and appeal of competitive games as the gaming community continues to evolve. Continuing with support and frequent updates, Rainbow Six Siege will certainly remain one of the best tactical FPS games on the market.