What is the difference between a game ban and a VAC ban in Steam?





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14

















Recently a famous youtuber (this is his steam ID here) got game banned on Steam. So I asked a friend "what is a game ban?", and he told me it is almost the same as a VAC ban. The difference is that with a game ban you can still play casual games, but with a VAC ban you can only play with bots.



How do you get a game ban? Are these 2 bans not the same thing?










share|improve this question
























  • 8





    Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

    – Nzall
    May 28 at 9:09











  • Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

    – kit
    May 28 at 9:15






  • 1





    @kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

    – Evorlor
    May 29 at 18:11


















14

















Recently a famous youtuber (this is his steam ID here) got game banned on Steam. So I asked a friend "what is a game ban?", and he told me it is almost the same as a VAC ban. The difference is that with a game ban you can still play casual games, but with a VAC ban you can only play with bots.



How do you get a game ban? Are these 2 bans not the same thing?










share|improve this question
























  • 8





    Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

    – Nzall
    May 28 at 9:09











  • Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

    – kit
    May 28 at 9:15






  • 1





    @kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

    – Evorlor
    May 29 at 18:11














14












14








14


1






Recently a famous youtuber (this is his steam ID here) got game banned on Steam. So I asked a friend "what is a game ban?", and he told me it is almost the same as a VAC ban. The difference is that with a game ban you can still play casual games, but with a VAC ban you can only play with bots.



How do you get a game ban? Are these 2 bans not the same thing?










share|improve this question
















Recently a famous youtuber (this is his steam ID here) got game banned on Steam. So I asked a friend "what is a game ban?", and he told me it is almost the same as a VAC ban. The difference is that with a game ban you can still play casual games, but with a VAC ban you can only play with bots.



How do you get a game ban? Are these 2 bans not the same thing?







steam






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question



share|improve this question








edited May 29 at 15:10









Wrigglenite

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35.4k18 gold badges133 silver badges187 bronze badges










asked May 28 at 8:51









kitkit

4072 gold badges4 silver badges19 bronze badges




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  • 8





    Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

    – Nzall
    May 28 at 9:09











  • Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

    – kit
    May 28 at 9:15






  • 1





    @kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

    – Evorlor
    May 29 at 18:11














  • 8





    Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

    – Nzall
    May 28 at 9:09











  • Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

    – kit
    May 28 at 9:15






  • 1





    @kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

    – Evorlor
    May 29 at 18:11








8




8





Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

– Nzall
May 28 at 9:09





Have you clicked the "Info" link next to the message on his steam profile saying he got banned?

– Nzall
May 28 at 9:09













Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

– kit
May 28 at 9:15





Yes, I have but the info is pretty less... Is there any more specify info about it?

– kit
May 28 at 9:15




1




1





@kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

– Evorlor
May 29 at 18:11





@kit are you sure you read the “Info” link? It appears to be full version of the accepted answer’s summary. I think you may have read something else. It is very verbose.

– Evorlor
May 29 at 18:11










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















23


















The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and a VAC ban is given by the Valve Anti-Cheat system. Also a VAC ban can be given for more than one game (usually all games using the same engine).




  • VAC bans are given by Valve's anti cheat system and either automatic or given by employees.

  • Game bans can be given by custom technologies, users or game devs themselves (such as CS:GOs Overwatch, which leads to a game ban after a community vote based on replays)

  • Game bans can be expanded to VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC.


Game bans must at all times uphold the VAC rules, for example a game ban must not ban the player from playing the game offline. So basically a game ban is the same, just given by a different system and likely for different (more) reasons and not just for cheating.






share|improve this answer
























  • 7





    "Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

    – Mast
    May 28 at 18:05








  • 3





    I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

    – Brian R
    May 28 at 18:06











  • "The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

    – JMac
    May 28 at 18:45



















10


















First off, VAC ban in case of some games covers a wide group of games - you get banned in one, you're banned in all. Besides that, VAC ban applies only, and strictly to cheating in the game through modifying the game behavior - using external tools or changing the game code. It's applied automatically through an external tool that analyzes game integrity during gameplay, discovering modification to the game code.



Developer ban AKA game ban only applies to a singular game in which you have cheated, and applies to any notoriously disruptive players - griefing, cheating in competitive games through abuse of in-game mechanics, severe violations of chat etiquette etc. It can be applied manually, or through dedicated tools built into the game.






share|improve this answer





























  • why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:21











  • @Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

    – SF.
    May 29 at 12:33











  • I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:53













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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









23


















The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and a VAC ban is given by the Valve Anti-Cheat system. Also a VAC ban can be given for more than one game (usually all games using the same engine).




  • VAC bans are given by Valve's anti cheat system and either automatic or given by employees.

  • Game bans can be given by custom technologies, users or game devs themselves (such as CS:GOs Overwatch, which leads to a game ban after a community vote based on replays)

  • Game bans can be expanded to VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC.


Game bans must at all times uphold the VAC rules, for example a game ban must not ban the player from playing the game offline. So basically a game ban is the same, just given by a different system and likely for different (more) reasons and not just for cheating.






share|improve this answer
























  • 7





    "Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

    – Mast
    May 28 at 18:05








  • 3





    I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

    – Brian R
    May 28 at 18:06











  • "The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

    – JMac
    May 28 at 18:45
















23


















The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and a VAC ban is given by the Valve Anti-Cheat system. Also a VAC ban can be given for more than one game (usually all games using the same engine).




  • VAC bans are given by Valve's anti cheat system and either automatic or given by employees.

  • Game bans can be given by custom technologies, users or game devs themselves (such as CS:GOs Overwatch, which leads to a game ban after a community vote based on replays)

  • Game bans can be expanded to VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC.


Game bans must at all times uphold the VAC rules, for example a game ban must not ban the player from playing the game offline. So basically a game ban is the same, just given by a different system and likely for different (more) reasons and not just for cheating.






share|improve this answer
























  • 7





    "Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

    – Mast
    May 28 at 18:05








  • 3





    I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

    – Brian R
    May 28 at 18:06











  • "The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

    – JMac
    May 28 at 18:45














23














23










23









The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and a VAC ban is given by the Valve Anti-Cheat system. Also a VAC ban can be given for more than one game (usually all games using the same engine).




  • VAC bans are given by Valve's anti cheat system and either automatic or given by employees.

  • Game bans can be given by custom technologies, users or game devs themselves (such as CS:GOs Overwatch, which leads to a game ban after a community vote based on replays)

  • Game bans can be expanded to VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC.


Game bans must at all times uphold the VAC rules, for example a game ban must not ban the player from playing the game offline. So basically a game ban is the same, just given by a different system and likely for different (more) reasons and not just for cheating.






share|improve this answer
















The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and a VAC ban is given by the Valve Anti-Cheat system. Also a VAC ban can be given for more than one game (usually all games using the same engine).




  • VAC bans are given by Valve's anti cheat system and either automatic or given by employees.

  • Game bans can be given by custom technologies, users or game devs themselves (such as CS:GOs Overwatch, which leads to a game ban after a community vote based on replays)

  • Game bans can be expanded to VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC.


Game bans must at all times uphold the VAC rules, for example a game ban must not ban the player from playing the game offline. So basically a game ban is the same, just given by a different system and likely for different (more) reasons and not just for cheating.







share|improve this answer















share|improve this answer




share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited May 29 at 13:18

























answered May 28 at 9:21









dlydly

12.9k6 gold badges38 silver badges68 bronze badges




12.9k6 gold badges38 silver badges68 bronze badges











  • 7





    "Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

    – Mast
    May 28 at 18:05








  • 3





    I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

    – Brian R
    May 28 at 18:06











  • "The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

    – JMac
    May 28 at 18:45














  • 7





    "Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

    – Mast
    May 28 at 18:05








  • 3





    I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

    – Brian R
    May 28 at 18:06











  • "The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

    – JMac
    May 28 at 18:45








7




7





"Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

– Mast
May 28 at 18:05







"Game bans can be turned into VAC bans if the user in question is being caught by VAC." That's hardly turning one ban into another, that's a new VAC ban overlapping the old single-game one.

– Mast
May 28 at 18:05






3




3





I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

– Brian R
May 28 at 18:06





I don't think your comment about VAC bans being based on the game engine is correct. AFAIK, the difference is that VAC bans are bans in the VAC system and will apply to every game that uses VAC. It isn't based on game engine and it's not optional. That is the key difference between game bans and VAC bans. VAC is much larger in scope.

– Brian R
May 28 at 18:06













"The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

– JMac
May 28 at 18:45





"The only difference is that a game ban is given by the game developer and not Valve as opposed to a VAC ban." Being a bit pedantic, this is slightly confusing in the case of CS:GO, for example. That is because Valve would be the developer in this case, and thus would still be issuing the ban.

– JMac
May 28 at 18:45













10


















First off, VAC ban in case of some games covers a wide group of games - you get banned in one, you're banned in all. Besides that, VAC ban applies only, and strictly to cheating in the game through modifying the game behavior - using external tools or changing the game code. It's applied automatically through an external tool that analyzes game integrity during gameplay, discovering modification to the game code.



Developer ban AKA game ban only applies to a singular game in which you have cheated, and applies to any notoriously disruptive players - griefing, cheating in competitive games through abuse of in-game mechanics, severe violations of chat etiquette etc. It can be applied manually, or through dedicated tools built into the game.






share|improve this answer





























  • why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:21











  • @Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

    – SF.
    May 29 at 12:33











  • I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:53
















10


















First off, VAC ban in case of some games covers a wide group of games - you get banned in one, you're banned in all. Besides that, VAC ban applies only, and strictly to cheating in the game through modifying the game behavior - using external tools or changing the game code. It's applied automatically through an external tool that analyzes game integrity during gameplay, discovering modification to the game code.



Developer ban AKA game ban only applies to a singular game in which you have cheated, and applies to any notoriously disruptive players - griefing, cheating in competitive games through abuse of in-game mechanics, severe violations of chat etiquette etc. It can be applied manually, or through dedicated tools built into the game.






share|improve this answer





























  • why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:21











  • @Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

    – SF.
    May 29 at 12:33











  • I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:53














10














10










10









First off, VAC ban in case of some games covers a wide group of games - you get banned in one, you're banned in all. Besides that, VAC ban applies only, and strictly to cheating in the game through modifying the game behavior - using external tools or changing the game code. It's applied automatically through an external tool that analyzes game integrity during gameplay, discovering modification to the game code.



Developer ban AKA game ban only applies to a singular game in which you have cheated, and applies to any notoriously disruptive players - griefing, cheating in competitive games through abuse of in-game mechanics, severe violations of chat etiquette etc. It can be applied manually, or through dedicated tools built into the game.






share|improve this answer
















First off, VAC ban in case of some games covers a wide group of games - you get banned in one, you're banned in all. Besides that, VAC ban applies only, and strictly to cheating in the game through modifying the game behavior - using external tools or changing the game code. It's applied automatically through an external tool that analyzes game integrity during gameplay, discovering modification to the game code.



Developer ban AKA game ban only applies to a singular game in which you have cheated, and applies to any notoriously disruptive players - griefing, cheating in competitive games through abuse of in-game mechanics, severe violations of chat etiquette etc. It can be applied manually, or through dedicated tools built into the game.







share|improve this answer















share|improve this answer




share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited May 29 at 13:01

























answered May 28 at 9:19









SF.SF.

6,11411 gold badges46 silver badges93 bronze badges




6,11411 gold badges46 silver badges93 bronze badges
















  • why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:21











  • @Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

    – SF.
    May 29 at 12:33











  • I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:53



















  • why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:21











  • @Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

    – SF.
    May 29 at 12:33











  • I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

    – Mischa
    May 29 at 12:53

















why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

– Mischa
May 29 at 12:21





why does anyone still thinks that a VAC ban will span multiple games? They changed it a long time ago. a VAC ban will only ban you from the (online) game you got caught cheating in. And I can (sadly) confirm this with my own experience.

– Mischa
May 29 at 12:21













@Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

– SF.
May 29 at 12:33





@Mischa support.steampowered.com/…

– SF.
May 29 at 12:33













I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

– Mischa
May 29 at 12:53





I stand corrected, did not know that. But your first sentence could need a "can" like -> First off, a VAC ban >can< cover a wide group of games Because there ARE games that use VAC that don't ban you in all VAC protected games

– Mischa
May 29 at 12:53



















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