Police bust “world’s biggest” video game cheating ring worth $750 million.
In a joint effort between Chinese police and gaming giant Tencent, the “world’s biggest” cheat provider has shut down after they raked in more than $750 million.
Video game cheating worth $750 million.
In March 2020, a video game cheating was found and reported to the Chinese police. 12 months later and this operation has now busted, allegedly marking the biggest takedown of a cheat provider in gaming history.
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Above all, offering cheats in video games has become an extremely lucrative business in recent years. Players across a variety of games were able to purchase temporary cheats through this now-defunct service.
The cheat providers reportedly earned more than $10,000 USD every day by selling in-game boosts. From wall-hacks to aimbots, all types of cheats were on offer.
In total, the operation earned more than $764 million (USD) before being shut down on March 26, 2021.
“After gaining information, Kunshan police raided a few places, closed down 17 websites, and arrested 10 resellers,” the official report outlined.
The sellers of these cheats purchased luxury vehicles “up to the cost of $20 million.” Moreover, they used the profits to hold virtual currency and property to boot.
While who mostly utilized the cheating service in the Chinese market, this organization reportedly sold hacks globally.
The Anti Cheat PD account also highlighted how much money was made by those involved in the cheating ring.
The Bottom Line
Mobile games were the primary focus of these cheats, with a heavy emphasis on hacks for third-person shooters. However, cheats for popular titles like Overwatch and even Valorant were available.
Players would purchase “subscription keys” to utilize hacks for a set period of time. According to the report, it cost roughly $10 for a day of access, $50 for a week, or $200 for a month.
Despite making at least five figures a day, those leading the charge for this provider have since had their assets seized and are facing jail time.
With one of the biggest cheat providers now out of commission, Chinese police assured that they would “continue to work hard to maintain the game environment.”