Once Human's Massive Ban Wave Targets Cheaters with Decade-Long Suspensions

Starry Studio has taken an uncompromising stance against cheating in its survival hit Once Human, issuing over 4,000 account suspensions between late May and late June 2025. The most severe penalties—affecting 1,014 players—include staggering 3,600-day bans (approximately ten years) for offenses like exploiting game-breaking bugs, using alt-accounts to bypass restrictions, deploying aimbots/ESP tools, and deliberately sabotaging other players' gameplay experiences. This aggressive enforcement underscores the developer's commitment to preserving competitive integrity as Once Human evolves beyond its controversial launch period, which previously drew criticism for premium cosmetic pricing and inconsistent moderation. By publicly listing banned accounts and implementing real-time detection systems, Starry Studio aims to transform its apocalyptic multiplayer landscape into a fairer arena.

Nearly 3,000 additional players received shorter-term bans (maxing out at 30 days) for toxic language and harassment, revealing a multi-front battle against community disruption. The studio's updated anti-cheat technology, developed by reverse-engineering prevalent hacks like teleportation tools and wallhacks, now actively scans for behavioral patterns associated with these violations. According to internal data, cheat methods haven't evolved significantly since 2024's major enforcement wave—where 400+ accounts faced identical decade-long exiles—proving that repeat offenders now face exponentially harsher consequences. 🔍

Upcoming Anti-Cheat Features:

• Real-time in-game notifications when nearby players get banned

• Streamlined reporting channels with dedicated UI shortcuts 🚨

• Permanent ban indicators on player profiles and death screens

• AI-driven behavior analysis to detect subtle exploit patterns

Community sentiment has largely praised these measures, with veteran players noting improved raid and PvP experiences since the purge. On Steam forums, reactions range from "Finally, the wasteland feels playable again" to calls for even stricter region-lock policies against cheat-riddled servers. While parallels exist to titles like Call of Duty and its Ricochet anti-cheat system, Once Human distinguishes itself through extreme ban durations and radical transparency—a necessary approach for a game where resource scarcity intensifies cheating incentives. 💬

People Also Ask:

• Why are some bans 10 years long?

Starry Studio views severe cheating as fundamentally incompatible with Once Human's design philosophy; decade-long bans act as deterrents against costly repeated offenses.

• How effective is the new anti-cheat system?

Early metrics show a 60% reduction in cheat reports since June, though developers acknowledge an "endless arms race" against hack developers.

• Can banned players appeal?

Temporary bans are appealable via support tickets, but permanent suspensions remain irreversible per the updated Terms of Service.

• Will cheating resurface after bans expire?

Unlikely—by 2035, Once Human's core gameplay and security infrastructure will have undergone multiple revolutions.

Long-term, Starry Studio plans quarterly "integrity reports" detailing ban metrics and emerging threat trends. This data-driven transparency mirrors esports ecosystems, positioning Once Human as a case study in post-launch fair-play rehabilitation. For legitimate survivors navigating its irradiated open world, these changes signal a hard reset—one where skill and strategy triumph over illicit shortcuts. As one developer bluntly stated: "If you cheat, you won't outlive the apocalypse in our game."

🚀 Ready to experience a cheat-free wasteland? Dive back into Once Human today—report suspicious activity via the updated in-game menu and join community watch initiatives to keep the frontier fair!