Shrapnel, a blockchain-based extraction shooter game, has uncovered instances of users attempting to gain an unfair advantage during matches and has issued a stern warning of permanent bans for all forms of manipulation. During one of its Early Access gaming events, a Shrapnel user was caught engaging in two illicit strategies—teaming and account sharing—to boost their ranking on the leaderboard. Teaming involves players coordinating their efforts to defeat others, adversely affecting solo players.
Furthermore, Shrapnel found evidence of users accessing the same player account from multiple devices, granting them an unfair advantage through teamwork. The company emphasized that such behavior, including sharing login credentials or granting unauthorized access to in-game assets, violates its Terms of Use. Shrapnel underscored its commitment to maintaining a fair gaming environment by implementing systems to detect such anomalies.
The repercussions for violating the game's Terms of Use are severe, with Shrapnel announcing that offending players will be removed from the current leaderboard and face potential permanent bans. The company urged players to report any instances of abuse, especially as the game prepares for its full launch and the integration of NFTs and digital asset withdrawals.
While Shrapnel's crackdown on unfair gameplay tactics received some criticism, particularly from community members advocating for team-based matches, the company clarified that its actions target only those found to be unfairly coordinating their way up the leaderboards. Players engaging in friendly matches with friends are not at risk of punishment. Notably, in September 2023, Shrapnel decided to prohibit US users from cashing out in-game assets due to regulatory concerns from the US Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the game remains accessible to players in Europe and Asia.
Francis Brankin, Shrapnel’s head of economics, addressed the restrictions on US users, highlighting that while they can engage in all other aspects of the game, they are unable to cash out due to regulatory considerations. Brankin expressed optimism that these limitations are temporary and that the Shrapnel team, Neon, will eventually enable US users to transfer accumulated capital to their bank accounts.
