Ubisoft Acquires GameBlocks, Which Creates FairFight Anti-Cheat Technology
Computer game developers are fighting an endless battle with scammers who want easy victories in competitive games. Ubisoft is willing to spend money to stay one step ahead. French publisher i3D.net has acquired GameBlocks, which has created a server-based anti-cheat tool called FairFight.
The i3D.net team intends to integrate FairFight into the ONE Game Hosting Platform, which many high-end game publishers use to enhance the detection and fight against dishonest gamers. Ubisoft has already closed the deal. The company declined to disclose how much it paid for GameBlocks but promised to support existing customers.
Such a purchase could give Ubisoft an edge. FairFight has been used in several major games, including her own Rainbow Six Siege or Electronic Arts’ shooter Battlefield V. In doing so, the technology offers a “non-invasive” approach that detects fraud by analyzing player behavior in real-time.
With FairFight, developers can theoretically keep pace with cheats’ evolution by updating servers and not touching players’ computers. There is no guarantee that we will see fewer auto-hover bots and other hacks due to the GameBlocks purchase, but efforts to counter the competitive pressures are welcome.
