Steam's Anti-Cheat Update Sparks Controversy

Steam is now requiring all developers to specify whether their game uses the controversial Kernel mode anti-cheat system. Read on to learn more about Steam’s updates to its platform and Kernel Mode Anti-cheat.

Steam Introduces New Tool for Describing Anti-Cheat in GamesKernel Mode Anti-Cheat Disclosure Required, Steam Announces

In a recent update on the Steam News Hub, Valve announced a new feature for developers to reveal the use of anti-cheat systems in their games, aiming to address both developer needs and player transparency. This new option, available in the "Edit Store Page" section on the Steamworks API, allows developers to specify whether their games use any anti-cheat software.

For client or server-based anti-cheat systems that aren’t kernel-based, this disclosure remains entirely optional. However, games using kernel-mode anti-cheat must indicate its presence—a step likely intended to address growing community concerns about these systems' intrusiveness.

Kernel-mode anti-cheat software, which detects malicious actions by scrutinizing processes directly on a player’s device, has been a contentious issue since its inception. Unlike conventional anti-cheat systems that monitor for suspicious behaviors within a game environment, kernel-mode solutions access low-level system information, which some players fear might impact device performance or jeopardize security and privacy.

Valve’s update seems to be a reaction to persistent feedback from both developers and players. Developers have been seeking a clear method to convey anti-cheat details to their audience, while players have requested more transparency on anti-cheat services and any supplementary software installations needed by games.

In an official announcement on the Steamworks blog, Valve clarified, "We’ve received feedback from numerous developers seeking guidance on sharing anti-cheat details with players. Concurrently, players have expressed a desire for greater transparency regarding anti-cheat systems and any supplementary software installed with games."

This adjustment streamlines communication for developers while assuring players, providing clearer understanding of the software methods used by games on the platform.

Initial Feedback is as Polarizing as Kernel Mode Anti-Cheat

The announcement of Steam’s newest feature update, released on October 31, 2024, at 3:09 a.m. CST, is now active. Counter-Strike 2's Steam page, pictured above, now clearly shows its use of Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) to reflect this change.

Community feedback has been mostly favorable, with many users commending Valve for its consumer-friendly approach. However, the update's launch hasn't been without its detractors. Some community members criticized minor grammatical errors in the field's display and found Valve’s phrasing—especially the use of "old" to describe previous games that may update this information—unclear.

In addition, some players posed practical queries about the feature, inquiring how anti-cheat labels will manage language translations or what constitutes "client-side kernel-mode" anti-cheat. PunkBuster, a frequently discussed anti-cheat solution, was one notable illustration. Others used the opportunity to address ongoing concerns surrounding kernel-mode anti-cheat, a system still viewed by some as excessively intrusive.

Regardless of this initial response, Valve appears committed to continuing their pro-consumer platform modifications, as shown by their transparency regarding a recent California law designed to protect consumers and counter false and misleading advertising of digital goods.

Whether this will alleviate the community's apprehension about the continued use of kernel-mode anti-cheat remains to be seen.