Major game companies including Krafton, NCSOFT, Nexon, and Netmarble are accelerating the development of AI-based detection systems as their core weapon against illegal programs.
/ Gemini-generated image
The primary driver behind major game companies' rush to build AI-based detection systems is game hacking. Game hacks vary by genre. In FPS games, aimhacks that automatically target opponents and wallhacks that reveal players behind walls are most common. In MMORPGs, auto-hunting macros run rampant. There's also "client ripping," where users extract data to preview unreleased update information.
Game companies closely monitor these threats and strengthen anti-cheat technology because it's directly tied to service survival. If hacks and illegal activities go unchecked, the game economy, user traffic, and revenue collapse in succession.
Krafton is advancing its AI-based detection system for flagship title PUBG. The company operates proprietary detection solutions through a dedicated anti-cheat team. As of November 2025, Krafton permanently banned approximately 7.81 million accounts using illegal programs.
Krafton is expanding detection scope with "kernel driver detection" and "DMA (Direct Memory Access)-based illegal program sanctions." The company also developed an AI-based voice recognition detection system in collaboration with its internal AI organization to block illegal program promotion through voice chat. It's being gradually implemented starting in Q1 this year, with long-term plans to build a system that automatically identifies and immediately sanctions violators.
NCSOFT is expanding monitoring and AI technology adoption across major titles. Notably, Lineage M operates three newly introduced AI-based illegal program detection models through collaboration between internal departments including the fraud detection technology team and game security operations team.
The company also runs AI NPCs that punish illegal users in-game. These NPCs detect players using hacks or gaining unfair advantages, tracking and eliminating them in real-time. Starting with the "Knight of Insight" AI NPC in TL (Throne and Liberty), NCSOFT has deployed "Guard" NPCs in Lineage Classic fields as well.
Nexon combats illegal programs through collaboration between its game hack response team and AI organization Intelligence Labs. The company operates LBD (Live Bot Detector), a solution that detects user abusing patterns including bot farms and hacks. For console hit Arc Raiders, Nexon is aggressive about blocking illegal users. Embark Studios, a Nexon subsidiary, introduced new detection mechanisms to strengthen hack detection in Arc Raiders while updating a three-strike cumulative sanction system.
Netmarble responds to illegal programs through its game anomaly detection system. This system learns game logs with deep learning algorithms to quickly detect anomalous cases occurring in-game and automatically reports them to relevant departments and personnel. Rather than detecting simple game hacks like memory manipulation, it identifies abnormal behavior that deviates significantly from normal patterns.
A Netmarble representative stated, "We're utilizing it across all recent MMORPG games including Vampire, RF Online Next, and Raven 2," adding "We plan to apply it to SOL: Enchant, scheduled for April release."
However, experts assess that completely eradicating hacks remains difficult despite game companies' efforts, due to current gaming law severity. Current law limits penalties for illegal macro program creation and distribution to "imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to 10 million won." This level is insufficient to deter illegal distributors earning tens or hundreds of millions of won.
An industry insider noted, "Technical responses alone have limitations," emphasizing "Fundamental solutions require stronger legal sanctions against illegal program creation and distribution in parallel."
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