Anti-Cheat Tiers and Products
ACE (Anti-Cheat Engine): ACE is a relatively new anti-cheat system developed by Tencent Games. It's used in games like PUBG Mobile. While it's effective against some cheats, it has faced criticism for its inability to detect certain types of cheating and for its impact on system performance.
Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC): Developed by Valve Corporation, VAC is widely used in Steam games. It employs a combination of server-side and client-side detection methods, including signature scanning and behavior analysis. VAC bans are generally permanent and have a reputation for being difficult to bypass.
BattleEye: Used in games like Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, and PUBG, BattleEye is known for its proactive approach to detecting cheats. It employs a kernel-mode driver and various behavioral analysis techniques to detect cheating software.
Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): EAC is used in many popular games like Apex Legends, Rust, and Dead by Daylight. It employs a combination of signature scanning, memory scanning, and behavioral analysis to detect cheats.
B Tier (Good)
PunkBuster: Though not as prevalent as it once was, PunkBuster was widely used in games like Battlefield and Call of Duty. It utilized a combination of signature scanning, screenshots, and hardware bans to deter cheating.
FairFight: FairFight is unique in that it focuses on analyzing player behavior rather than directly scanning for cheats. It's used in games like Battlefield and Tom Clancy's The Division. While it's not as invasive as some other anti-cheat systems, it's effective at detecting suspicious patterns and issuing bans.
Perfect World Anti-Cheat (PWAC): Used in games hosted by Perfect World Entertainment, PWAC employs various detection methods to maintain fair play. While it's effective to some extent, it's not as widely recognized or proven as other anti-cheat systems.
C Tier (Average)
XIGNCODE: Used primarily in Asian markets, XIGNCODE is known for its lightweight client and decent detection capabilities. However, it's not as robust as some other anti-cheat systems and has been bypassed by skilled cheaters in the past.
D Tier (Below Average)
nProtect GameGuard: While once popular in games like Lineage II and Aion, nProtect GameGuard has fallen out of favor due to its invasive nature and susceptibility to bypass methods.