We're just days into the launch of Battlefield 6, and EA is already clamping down on the number of cheaters in the FPS. Bans have been rolled out for users of the Cronus Zen software, with the punishments ranging from short- to long-term.
The release of a game as big as Battlefield 6 was always going to attract dishonest players. As mods for cheating become easier to use and more widespread, stamping out their usage becomes an unending concern for developers, especially on large-scale multiplayer releases.
Cronus Zen, a program for making your in-game movements faster, among other potential buffs, is a particular bugbear. Its users are among the first to experience targeted repercussions, as logging into the latest Battlefield while running Cronus will now result in a temporary ban - or worse.
On the low end, players are getting banned for three days if they’re caught with Cronus activated on their profile, essentially a slap on the wrist and a firm warning for such carry on. But others are getting lifetime restrictions for utilizing the performance-enhancing add-on.
"Your account has been disabled," reads the player message after being kicked, giving Cronus Zen detection as the reason. "We have permanently banned access to this product."
Cronus devs acknowledged EA's enforcements by asking people to "pause usage" of their products for the time being. The team states they’re working on a solution - expect this to be a consistent nuisance throughout the lifetime of Battlefield 6.
As reports of the three-day bans spread, calls for steeper consequences emerged. "Devs need to stop being soft on cheaters," IceManIsaac, a popular Battlefield and FPS YouTuber, posted on Twitter. "They deserve zero second chances."
