FACEIT tightened penalties for cheating and smurfing, but allowed more trash talk

Representatives of FACEIT announced a change in the ban policy on the platform. The changes will take effect on August 5 with the start of the ninth competitive season in CS2.

The length of punishment for cheating, smurfing, stream sniping, and repeated or targeted insults will be increased. At the same time, the service will take a more contextual approach to individual violations so that the blocking period better matches the severity of the offense. Players will also be given more freedom to engage in trash talk, friendly ribbing, innocuous support for their country or favorite sports team, and the use of profanity - as long as it does not escalate into offensive language. Toxicity has long been one of the most talked about issues in the community, so we have taken a tough approach to penalties. Starting from the ninth season, with the exception of violations that go beyond the line, moderation will take into account not only specific words, but also the context. The conduct itself, the circumstances of the match and the player's history will be assessed when issuing a penalty. For example, a single emotional outburst after a lost round will no longer be equated with similar behavior that is repeated every round and in every match. The goal of the changes is to focus the strictest enforcement on players who actually ruin matches, while recognizing that emotionality is part of competitive play.

Previously, FACEIT employees asked whether they should return the common military chat between teams when changing sides in matches on the platform. If we decide to return this functionality, it will appear at the beginning of the ninth season as a limited test.