An Updated Classification of Cheating in Esports

This document presents an updated classification of cheating in esports, building on Yan and Randell's 2005 framework. It defines cheating as the illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs, match-fixing, illegal software or hardware, and the exploitation of bugs, distinguishing these from morally questionable but permitted conduct such as toxicity or running down the clock. Its central argument is that cheating poses significant integrity threats to esports organizations, and that weak oversight by governing bodies has allowed these practices to flourish.

The authors revise the original framework from 15 to 11 categories and 24 sub-categories, encompassing 44 associated terms across cheats, hacks, and doping. The classification draws on cases from 2007 to 2024 and spans titles including CS:GO, StarCraft II, Fortnite, Rocket League, and Call of Duty. Documented methods range from aimbots, speed and mobility hacks, and DDoS attacks to stream sniping, performance-enhancing drugs, and newly added categories such as gender doping and hardware modifications. Notable cases include the Audi "ringer" incident and PUBG radar glitch bans. Across these 17 years, the review identifies 99 named individuals who were caught or punished, with CS:GO the most frequently cited title.

The review's most consequential finding concerns governance. Oversight is fragmented: the Esports Integrity Commission does not cover all publishers, most notably Riot Games' League of Legends, sanctions differ by country and by title, and players often remain unclear about which authority governs them. The authors therefore call for a unified and consistent punishment framework across titles and federations, arguing that inadequate enforcement threatens esports' credibility, sponsorship, and long-term stability. The authors also acknowledge that the classification is a reference rather than an exhaustive database, and that some cheating methods likely remain undiscovered.