Anti-Cheat Expert
Product to detect cheating in games
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE) is a game security product created by Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent, designed for both PC games and mobile games.
| Anti-Cheat Expert | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Tencent |
| Initial release | 2005 |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Platform | Windows, Linux |
| Type | Anti-cheat software |
| License | Proprietary |
ACE was initially released as an antibot for Free Fantasy Online in 2005.[1] Since then, ACE has also collaborated with multiple games such as Honor of Kings, Game for Peace and Arena Breakout.[2][3]
Anti-Cheat Expert is a member of the Fair Play Alliance.[4][non-primary source needed]
History
In 2021, its current name Anti-Cheat Expert was announced.[5] In March 2022, ACE participated in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) for the first time.[6] In August 2023, ACE participated in the Gamescom for the first time.[citation needed]
In April 2024, ACE was interviewed by the Korea Economic Daily to discuss "how artificial intelligence can advance game security technology".[7] ACE entered into a partnership agreement with Cathedral Studios, offering anti-cheat protection for their game, The Bornless.[8] ACE participated at Gamescom again in 2024.[9]
Controversy
Anti-Cheat Expert has faced criticism for its use of kernel-level access in its anti-cheat technology. Kernel-level access grants the software the highest level of control over a user's system, which has raised significant security and privacy concerns among critics and cybersecurity experts. Critics argue that this level of access increases the risk of data misuse and security vulnerabilities.[10]
Despite these concerns, ACE is widely used across numerous games, including Delta Force and Honor of Kings, where it provides security solutions to combat cheating and improve fair play.[11]
It's been reported that games using Anti-Cheat Expert blocks Desktop Linux from running, but allows the Steam Deck.[12][13][14][15]
Games using Anti-Cheat Expert
- Arena Breakout: Infinite
- Arknights: Endfield
- The Bornless[16]
- Free Fantasy Online
- Goddess of Victory: Nikke
- Honor of Kings[2]
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- Arena of Valor
- Dragon Raja
- Strinova
- Dungeonborne
- Delta Force
- Infinity Nikki
- Mecha Break[15]
- Wuthering Waves
- Blue Protocol: Star Resonance
- Last War: Survival Game
- Punishing: Gray Raven