Is VAC Live finally online? What we know about CS2's VACnet 3.0 anti-cheat updates

25 Apr

Thales Costa

A recent tweet from CS2 VacCoin on X has revealed important updates to CS2's anti-cheat system. According to the tweet, Valve has seemingly updated VAC Live again, with all providers being affected. The update clarifies that VAC Live isn't focused on cheat detection itself, but rather on detecting specific features used by cheaters, and Valve appears to be adjusting it to target 'rage cheaters' more aggressively.

The tweet provides specific advice for rage cheaters or semi-rage cheaters who want to avoid detection, suggesting they'll need to dial back their cheating to more subtle 'semi-raging' settings. This indicates that Valve is enhancing its ability to detect obvious cheating behaviors while potentially still struggling with more subtle forms of cheating.

How VACnet 3.0 Works

While the exact mechanisms remain largely undisclosed, some details have emerged about how the system might function. One key element appears to be a special bot that connects to players exhibiting suspicious behavior. When this connection occurs, users may experience slight lag and FPS drops. If the suspicious activity continues, the player receives a temporary 24-hour ban within five rounds, which significantly reduces their trust factor.

The system is particularly focused on combating obvious types of cheats, such as raid hacks, AI assistance, and spinbots. By combining VACnet 3.0 with the previously reintroduced Overwatch system (a community-driven cheat review process), Valve aims to create a more comprehensive approach to maintaining competitive integrity.

The Current State of CS2 Anti-Cheat

This update appears to be part of Valve's ongoing efforts to combat cheating in CS2. Since August 2024, Valve has reportedly been testing VACnet 3.0, an AI-powered anti-cheat system designed to detect cheaters and issue bans in real-time. The system aims to identify suspicious player behavior with greater accuracy and operate at a deeper level to prevent sophisticated cheats.

Despite these efforts, the Counter-Strike community has expressed frustration with the prevalence of cheaters in the game, particularly in higher-ranked Premier matches. Some players report encountering multiple blatant cheaters in a single match, with VAC Live failing to ban them despite obvious cheating behaviors.

Community Response

The Counter-Strike community has shown mixed reactions to Valve's anti-cheat efforts. While most players welcome attempts to combat cheating, many remain skeptical about the effectiveness of current systems. Some players have reported experiencing false positives during testing phases, while others point to previous anti-cheat initiatives that failed to fully address the problem.

The timing of this update is significant as it comes ahead of the anticipated full release of VACnet 3.0, which is expected to arrive before the Austin Major in June 2025, possibly coinciding with the start of Premier Season 2. This update suggests that Valve is actively fine-tuning its anti-cheat measures in preparation for a more comprehensive solution.

As Counter-Strike 2 continues to evolve, the battle against cheaters remains one of the game's most significant challenges. While this update represents a step in the right direction, the community continues to hope for more robust anti-cheat measures that can effectively preserve the competitive integrity of one of the world's most popular first-person shooters.

Featured Image Credits: Valve

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