Valve, the company behind Dota 2, has announced a rigorous crackdown on Smurf accounts and their associated main accounts. In a recent move, Valve successfully banned a staggering 90,000 Dota 2 Smurf accounts that have been active over the past few months, while also tracing these accounts back to their primary counterparts.
For those unfamiliar with the term, Smurf accounts are used by players to avoid playing at their actual matchmaking rating (MMR), engage in game abandonment, griefing, cheating, and toxic behavior with minimal consequences.
Valve outlined its strict stance on the matter in a blog post on the official Dota 2 website, stating, “Going forward, a main account found associated with a Smurf account could result in a wide range of punishments, from temporary adjustments to behavior scores to permanent account bans.”
The blog post further emphasizes the importance of a balanced and enjoyable gaming experience, noting that Dota 2 is best enjoyed when matches are fair and competitive. Smurfing disrupts this balance and negatively impacts the overall quality of matches.
This isn’t the first time Valve has taken action against Smurfing in Dota 2. Back in February, the company banned 40,000 Smurf accounts in a single day, employing a bait-and-switch strategy to catch offenders.
In a separate blog post titled “Cheaters will never be welcome in Dota,” Valve explained how it managed to identify and ban a significant number of fake accounts. The developer identified third-party software that provided players with an unfair advantage and took steps to address these issues.
Valve introduced a patch that created a honeypot within the game client, enticing cheaters to exploit it. Any accounts that interacted with this “secret” area within the client were subsequently banned, ensuring that the bans were well-deserved.
Valve’s commitment to maintaining a fair and enjoyable gaming environment is evident, and the company has urged players to report any suspicious behavior or unfair advantages observed in the game. The battle against cheaters and Smurf accounts continues as Valve remains dedicated to preserving the integrity of Dota 2 matches.
