This is a comprehensive and continuously updated list that we gathered of all games that use controversial kernel-level anti-cheat software and the developers and publishers behind them. The most popular third-party software are EasyAntiCheat, PunkBuster, BattlEye, nProtect GameGuard, and Xigncode3. Some developers opt for their own proprietary software like Riot’s Vanguard. Others like that of Valve’s VAC or Blizzard’s Warden aren’t included because they don’t operate on the kernel level.
We should point out that Denuvo has come up with its own kernel-level anti-cheat software and this should not be confused with their popular DRM anti-tamper software. Doom Eternal was the first game to implement this and an update was later released removing it due to backlash from gamers. For the sake of completeness we also included ESEA’s and FaceIT’s implementations, but it should be noted these are not used by the developers of the games and are for competitive purposes.
As games add, remove, or switch kernel-level anti-cheat software we will adapt this list accordingly.
When it comes to the popularity of kernel-level anti-cheat software, the bluntly named Easy Anti-Cheat by Epic Games is the most popular. It can be found in 140 games and includes some of the most popular games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.
PunkBuster you might remember from way back when some of us were playing Battlefield on GameSpy servers. It has had its own share of controversy in its days and dropped in popularity since then. That said it’s still bundled in more games than BattlEye, another emerging software, at 52 versus 41.
nProtect GameGuard is popular in the Korean gaming market. The developer INCA Internet states upwards of 330 games use it however this is difficult to verify as no specific game information is provided. The most obscure of the third-party software is XIGNCODE3 with 4 games. You can find this software mostly in titles made by Korean developers.
The newest of the bunch and the one with arguably the most drama is Riot’s Vanguard software used in Valorant and possibly League of Legends in the near future. Amongst controversy, Riot later made it possible to disable Vanguard while you aren’t playing Valorant, but it has to be on when you do want to play. Additionally it put out a bounty of upwards of $100,000 for anyone that can “demonstrate practical exploits leveraging the Vanguard kernel driver.”
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It’s notable that we have no way of knowing how may kernel level exploits have been found which leverage the Vanguard driver, since disclosing the existence of the exploit to the public would be against the terms of the bounty. The purpose of the bounty is to prevent the public from becoming aware of any dangers related to their driver.
Knockout City Published by EA uses EasyAntiCheat.
Proof: the EAC logo is displayed when launching the game
Added!
DJMAX RESPECT V uses XIGNCODE3
Included! Thanks Jean.
I’m not sure if it’s still being utilised to this day, but nProtect GameGuard does use kernel-level protection iirc hence why games protected by it are unplayable on Wine.
Hey Margaret thanks for bringing this to our attention. A number of games using this anti-cheat have been added to the list. The developer behind it says as many as 330 games use it, but this is difficult to verify as no further information is provided. Some games that initially used it have since switched to different anti-cheat protection.
I don’t think The Isle uses BattlEye anymore.
“- Added Steam Authentication and Valve Anti-Cheat support.
For many reasons on a list longer than the petition of players who want Half-Life 3, we’re moving away from BattlEye.”
Thanks Peter, we’ve gone ahead and removed The Isle.
Genshin: Impact and Houkai 3rd Also have a kernel-level anti-cheat called mhyprot2. This one MiHoYo, a developer of games above, developed in-house. Sources: 1, 2.
Added! Thanks again.
Watch Dogs: Legion uses BattlEye. Source
Thanks for the heads up!
Fall Guys began using Easy Anti Cheat.
For a list of all games using EAC, check.
Thanks! Updated.
TERA NA dont use any anti-cheat, it was in the past, but it got removed some months later due to certain drama.
P.S: Half-Community veteran players use third party apps & mods to play
P.S2: TERA not works on linux via wine/proton due to certain error unrelated to any anticheats, it is more due to own game unoptimized
I dont know about others regions.
Punkbuster isn’t kernel based these days. DuckDuckGo searches for PnkBstrK.sys seem to only give pages from 2007/2008. Would you provide some justification for calling it kernel anticheat?
Also, you missed Tenprotect from TenCent. I don’t know which games use it though.
Do you have any evidence that it was removed? I’m seeing more recent things that still talk about it being kernel-based.
Thanks Dan for putting this list together. I had been looking for a complete DRM Anti-cheat software list for a while. Now I can easily avoid all of the BattlEye games on Steam.