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Once Human Issues 10-Year Bans in Massive Cheater Crackdown

Last Updated: October 30, 2025

Once Human players banned for cheating and unfair play.

In a decisive and large-scale effort to protect the integrity of its post-apocalyptic world, developer Starry Studio has dropped the ban hammer on thousands of players in the survival shooter Once Human. Escalating its war on unfair play, the studio has permanently removed over 4,000 accounts for a wide range of violations, sending a clear and uncompromising message to cheaters and rule-breakers.

The team behind the popular open-world survival game has taken dramatic action against those violating its terms of service. In a series of recent "Fair Play Announcements," the studio confirmed that its ongoing enforcement efforts have resulted in thousands of bans, with some waves penalizing over 1,000 players at a time. The most severe offenses are now being met with 10-year account suspensions, effectively a permanent ban. This latest crackdown is a crucial part of an aggressive strategy to ensure the game's challenging world remains a level playing field for all participants, known in-game as Metas.

A Deeper Look at the Offenses

The thousands of penalties were distributed across several key categories, revealing where the development team is focusing its moderation and anti-cheat technology:

  • Cheating & Hacking: The vast majority of bans were issued to players using unauthorized third-party software. This includes common cheats like aimbots, wallhacks, and speed hacks that provide a blatant competitive advantage in both PvE and the game's high-stakes PvP encounters. This remains the studio's top enforcement priority.
  • Alt-Account Exploitation: A significant number of accounts were penalized for "alt-account exploitation and linked violations." This refers to players using secondary accounts to bypass bans on a main account, manipulate the in-game economy, harass other players anonymously, or gain an unfair advantage in resource gathering and territorial control.
  • Malicious Interference and Bug Exploitation: Players were also banned for a range of toxic behaviors that ruin the experience for others. This includes intentionally griefing teammates, exploiting game-breaking bugs to disrupt server performance or gain an advantage, and engaging in targeted harassment that severely impacts another's ability to play the game.

Developer's Unwavering Commitment to the Community

Alongside the staggering statistics, Starry Studio reiterated its dedication to fostering a healthy and fair gaming environment. "We are committed to providing the best possible gameplay experience and continuously improving our monitoring systems," one announcement stated. This signals that the team is not just reacting to player reports but is also proactively refining its internal tools to detect and prevent cheating before it can spread.

These large-scale, public ban waves serve a dual purpose: they reassure the legitimate player base that action is being taken while acting as a powerful deterrent to anyone considering breaking the rules. The implementation of 10-year bans for the worst offenders underscores the seriousness of the developer's intent.

Why Fair Play is Crucial in the Wasteland

For a game like Once Human, where survival hinges on skill, strategic thinking, and significant time investment, the presence of cheaters is uniquely destructive. It invalidates the hard work of honest players, destroys trust within the community, and can cause a rapid decline in a game's active population.

By taking such a firm, transparent, and severe stance on fair play, the developers are proving they value their community's experience above all else. As Once Human continues to grow and evolve, these consistent and massive enforcement actions will be absolutely critical to maintaining the long-term health and appeal of its dangerous, yet captivating, world.