It seems that the days of discreetly banning cheating players are long over as game developers increasingly adopt a more transparent approach to address the problem. One decision that these developers have made are publicly exposing those who engage in dishonest practices. Furthermore, Epic Games has taken this trend to the next level by suing a Fortnite professional player for cheating during a championship tournament qualifier. Additionally, they mandated that the player create a video confessing to the infraction. By following this unconventional tactic, will cheating in the gaming community end for good?
Epic Games Settlement and Consequences
Epic Games has reached a settlement with Morgan “RepulseGod” Bamford for
cheating his way to a cash prize in the 2023
Fortnite Championship Series. RepulseGod, as part of the agreement, was required to not only return the prize money but to also post a public apology to his Youtube channel. Unfortunately, he showed an unconvincing display of remorse, opting to post a 15-second video featuring text that outlined his wrongdoing. Specifically, he admitted that he qualified for the grand finals of the championship series by sharing his Epic Games account with another user. What’s more? His apology acknowledged the harm caused by cheating and expressed regret for ruining the experience for the other players who earned their spots in tournaments. Lastly, he pledged to never cheat in
Fortnite again.
RepulseGod’s Fortnite Cheating Scandal
Despite the cheating scandal, RepulseGod’s
Fortnite career was marked by
notable achievements. For instance, he had competed in the 2023 FNCS Major 3 as a duo alongside player Jace. After securing a spot in the Grand Finals, the pair boasted a substantial $4 million total prize pool. However, their victory didn’t last too long as they’d be disqualified on the eve of the event. As tracked by FortniteTracker, however, the duo still received a $10,000 award for the win.
For RepulseGod, his success isn’t an isolated incident as he’s been actively competing in the Fortnite pro since 2019. Overall, he accumulated several notable wins throughout his career in Duo and Trio events within the Oceania region. What’s more? His second-place finish at the 2020 FNCS Invitation Grand Finals in Oceania is considered one of his most impressive achievements. As of now, it’s unclear whether this cheating scandal completely tarnished RepulseGod’s impressive record in the Fortnite pro scene.
Epic Game’s Approach to Address Cheating
The official
Fortnite Competitive X account had recently
posted a statement that sent a clear message – cheating won’t be tolerated. In the post, they also confirmed that the player was banned from
Fortnite tournaments forever and they donated RepulseGod’s undeserved prize money to charity instead. Due to this public exposure and admonishment, the community has had a mix of reactions to the player’s behavior. Some found the player’s ban amusing, while others have given approval.
For many E-sports professionals and analysts, this approach is
a positive way to reinforce anti-cheating messages and as a warning to potential cheaters. According to industry expert Rod Breslau, more game developers following Epic’s lead in public shaming and taking action against cheaters would significantly clean up the industry in a short time. While this speculation may be too optimistic for many, enforcing consequences for people’s troubling actions may prove beneficial.
Epic Games Sets Precedent for Fair Gaming
Although tens of thousands of cheaters are banned from
online multiplayer games, it’s relatively rare for companies to take action against top players in the community. What’s more, even games like Call of Duty has seen the bans of these problematic players. By making an example of RepulseGod, Epic’s decision can potentially deter others from violating its term of services and undermining the integrity of its tournaments. Despite taking a strong stance against cheating, it remains to be seen how the company will address cheating in the future.
To further discourage wrongdoing, one possible approach may be introducing more consequences, such as public acknowledgement of cheating. With the 2025 Fortnite Champion Series arriving, Epic may inplement harsher penalties for cheaters, ranging from public apologies to other forms of accountability. That said, only time will tell if these efforts will make a difference, allowing players to have a fair and enjoyable gaming experience.
