Arrowhead Studios addressed gaming community concerns about GameGuard, their kernel-level anti-cheat software. In a Steam post, Technical Director Peter Lindgren reassured users about privacy and security, stating GameGuard leaves no trace post-uninstallation and doesn't collect personal information. The Q&A session affirmed the software's non-impact on game performance and absence of additional security risks.
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Arrowhead Studios Defends Anti-Cheat Implementation
Lindgren underscored the studio's decision to implement GameGuard, citing negative outcomes experienced in previous projects due to cheating. He referenced instances from Helldivers 1, which lacked an effective anti-cheat system, allowing cheats to complete the entire game's progression system in a single swoop.
The introduction of the galactic war in Helldivers 2, where individual match outcomes contribute to a larger metagame, highlighted the potential for widespread cheating to undermine the collective player experience.
Community Backlash and Alternative Suggestions
While Arrowhead Studios aimed to be transparent about their anti-cheat choice, the community's response on Reddit and Steam has been predominantly negative. Users disputed the safety claims of GameGuard, expressing doubts about its privacy and urging the developers to explore alternative anti-cheat solutions. Concerns were also raised regarding the compatibility of GameGuard with a fully Steam Deck compatible version, reflecting a broader apprehension among players.
Despite the backlash, Helldivers 2 has celebrated a successful launch, attracting over 80,000 players on Steam and achieving the status of PlayStation's most significant PC release to date. However, the game has not been without technical challenges, prompting Arrowhead Studios to announce an upcoming hotfix.
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