File: Fortnite hacks are cause for concern, push Epic to double down on enforcement
Fortnite is an absurdly popular free-to-play Battle Royale that boasts over 400 million players across the globe. The cross-platform and regularly updated PvP has soared in popularity in recent years, drawing in new players with its competitive and social-oriented game modes.
But there has been an uptick in players willing to try their hands at Fortnite hacks to gain an edge against enemies, testing Epic’s patience and causing the company to revamp their review processes. Now, the company is taking Fortnite hacks much more seriously, investing in new technologies and even working with law enforcement to thwart would-be cheaters.
If you’re one of these buggars (there’s no way you saw me through that wall @GangstaWilbur0923), you may already be on a shiz list at Epic. Here are all the ways Epic is cracking down on cheaters and what they’re looking for.
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Table of Contents
What are Fortnite hacks?
There are numerous Fortnite hacks players have employed to gain a competitive edge in Epic’s wildly popular PvP, including:
- Perfect aim or tracking
- Unlimited ammo
- Speed hacks
- Other suspicious activity
Let’s take a look at each.
Perfect aim or tracking (aimbot)
Ever wonder how you took 250 damage to the head through a wall? Yes, it’s possible, all thanks to something called Aimbot or Wallhack. Players that have the ability to consistently hit headshots or track opponents through walls are most likely using a hack called Aimbot. With Aimbot, players can land shots through builds and deliver perfect shots for maximum damage. Ugh, so rude.
Unlimited ammo
As the name suggests, players who utilize this hack are stacked with unlimited ammo for their weapon of choice. Of course, with the mods now available in-game, including Medium Ammo Slide and Shotgun Recycle, unlimited ammo isn’t used as much anymore, but it is still a hack Fortnite reviewers look for.
Speed hacks
Speed hacks are also not as prevalent today with in-game mods, given players can activate More Parkour and pretty much maintain increased speed throughout the match with a pull-up here and there. But you’ll still find hackers speeding through the game at speeds that are not in line with Fortnite physics from time to time.
Other suspicious activity
Epic also looks for suspicious activity like invincibility, getting a lot of kills, or winning virtually every game. If you can imagine it, there’s probably a Fortnite hack for that.
So how does Fortnite address this?
How Fortnite hacks are identified by Epic
Epic keeps its cards close to the chest to prevent hackers from finding new ways to work around moderators, but the company has a pretty robust publicly available workflow to identify hackers. Some of the ways Epic identifies hackers include manual review, statistical analysis, and machine learning.
Manual review
Epic has a team of moderators that manually review gameplay footage for suspicious activity. In addition, the company responds to players’ complaints via the “Report Player” feature available to all gamers in Fortnite. This is the most effective way to identify hackers, however, it is also the most time-consuming and expensive.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis is a bit more complicated because it involves monitoring stats to identify hackers. The company looks for players who are performing exceptionally well and tries to spot anomalies in their kills and wins; again, how did you see me through that wall and deliver a perfect shot @GangstaWilbur0923? Lol.
Fortunately, game analytics contain metadata that allows moderators to identify strange and unusual actions and successes in the game and use that data to identify cheaters.
Machine learning
Machine learning involves training AI to identify patterns that are associated with hacking. For example, players running 50 miles per hour and popping 25 headshots per game; really?
Next steps if you’re caught using Fortnite hacks
Once Epic identifies a hacker, the company will ban the player from the game. This could be temporary, permanent, or even result in a lawsuit (particularly if the action resulted in financial gain for the player).
And Fortnite is always working to improve its ability to identify and ban hackers. It’s true that moderators often only manage to capture a fraction of Fortnite hacks, but the company is committed to eliminating players that employ these tactics and keeping Fortnite fair and enjoyable for all.
How you can avoid players who employ Fortnite hacks
If you believe you’ve encountered a player using Fortnite hacks, there are some steps you can take to keep the game fair and fun for everyone.
Recognize the signs of hacking
Don’t assume you’re playing against a GOAT. If you encounter players that appear invincible, have perfect aim, can pierce walls or walk through them, speed across the map, or seem to have an unlimited cache of ammo and never have to reload, chances are they’re using a series of Fortnite hacks. Report them.
Report suspicious activity
No one wants to be a tattle, however, these hackers leave us no choice. If you see a player using hacks, you can easily report them to Epic using the Report Player function in the game or after a match.
Play on official servers or use anti-cheat software
Fortnite doesn’t support unofficial servers, so you’re less likely to encounter cheats on official servers. Furthermore, there are a number of anti-cheat software suites available for PC gamers, including Battleeye and Easy Anti-Cheat, though you should use caution using mods in any way in the game as they could be construed by Epic as cheats themselves.
Final words
Since 2022, Epic Games has begun to crack down on hackers using specialized tools to identify hackers. In fact, last summer, droves of players using Fortnite hacks dropped the game for good after the company began to employ Byfron, an anti-cheat application that uses machine learning to identify suspicious activity and monitor players who have lopsided kills-to-death ratios and exceptionally high BR wins. The software was so effective upon launch that it led to a wave of players leaving the platform for good, peppering social media with posts like, “F**K Fortnite” and “How is this fun?” Lol.
In any case, with the advances in AI and Fortnite’s growing popularity, the days of easy Fortnite hacks may be coming to an end, cheaters beware.
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