PUBG: Battlegrounds has always been about skill, survival, and strategy. But for some players, cheating has been the shortcut to victory. Krafton, the developer behind the popular battle royale, is making sure those shortcuts come at a cost. At the end of August 2025, more than 170,000 accounts were permanently banned, with the majority belonging to cheaters.
This mass ban was possible thanks to new upgrades in PUBG’s anti-cheat system, showing Krafton’s commitment to fair play for all gamers.
PUBG’s Anti-Cheat Crackdown
PUBG has a history of battling hackers, but the latest ban wave is one of the biggest in recent months. In just one week, 170,165 accounts were blocked from accessing the game.
One of the main targets was DMA-based hacks (Direct Memory Access). These are hardware-level cheats that many hackers believe are undetectable. However, Krafton’s improved anti-cheat solution, Zakynthos, proved otherwise.
- Over 30,000 accounts using DMA hacks were banned.
- In total, DMA bans now cross 80,000 accounts permanently removed from PUBG.
- Krafton also discovered cheaters trying to bypass their systems, which led to another 50,000 bans.
It’s clear that Krafton is monitoring not just cheats but also new methods of manipulation to stay one step ahead.
Types of Cheats Detected
Krafton explained that the latest bans weren’t limited to DMA-based hacks. Developers also found other cheats giving unfair gameplay advantages. These included:
- Hacks linked with third-party software to boost abnormal gameplay.
- Modifications that reduce or remove weapon recoil.
- Tampering with in-game systems for faster reaction times and stronger weapons.
Simply put, anything that breaks PUBG’s Rules of Conduct is on the radar.
Why This Matters for PUBG Players
For regular players, cheating ruins the fun. Nobody wants to lose to someone using software to aim perfectly or control weapons without recoil. Krafton’s recent crackdown shows that the company is serious about keeping PUBG fair.
With competitive tournaments and ranked matches still being a huge part of PUBG, ensuring a clean environment is key for both casual and pro players. The ban hammer (or frying pan, in PUBG’s case) is one way to maintain balance and trust in the community.
What’s Next for PUBG Anti-Cheat
Krafton has already shared its 2025 anti-cheat roadmap, confirming more improvements to Zakynthos and stronger monitoring of suspicious activities. Players can also report cheaters directly, and those reports are being checked with new detection systems.
The list of banned accounts is massive over 1,200 pages long. That means a lot fewer cheaters dropping into Erangel, Miramar, or Sanhok in the near future.
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