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Some Linux Gamers Using Wine/DXVK To Play Blizzard's Overwatch Banned (phoronix.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the false-positives dept.

Longtime Slashdot reader DrYak writes: Phoronix is reporting that multiple users who all use Wine and DXVK compatibility layers have seen their Overwatch accounts banned by Blizzard. Previously, Blizzard has stated: "playing on Linux or even a Mac while on an emulated Windows environment is not bannable." But users report on Reddit getting banned simply after testing some rendering options. Tech support has answered that they are escalating the ticket and trying to take a closer look, hoping to avoid this from happening to other Linux users. According to Phoronix, the most common explanation for the bans "is a false-positive from Blizzard's anti-cheat technology having issue with DXVK."

7 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Ban First, Think About Fixing it Later by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 2, Informative

    A bit bloody arrogant don't you think, Blizzard?

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    I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    1. Re:Ban First, Think About Fixing it Later by Tough+Love · · Score: 3, Informative

      Looks like a perfectly normal screwup to me, not a reason for indignation.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  2. Sound's reasonable by AlanBDee · · Score: 4, Interesting

    According to Phoronix, the most common explanation for the bans "is a false-positive from Blizzard's anti-cheat technology having issue with DXVK."

    I tell you what, I already had my cane in hand and ready to shake... but then paused long enough to actually read the explanation and this sounds very reasonable. It's obvious by their response that they have nothing against Linux or people using compatibility layers.

    1. Re:Sound's reasonable by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 2

      Coupled with the number of cheaters on Overwatch, and the way they can poison play for paying customers, and it's not a surprise if there is a mistake.

  3. Re:Serves 'em RIGHT! by Scarletdown · · Score: 2

    From even just TFS:

    "Blizzard has stated: "playing on Linux or even a Mac while on an emulated Windows environment is not bannable.""

    So, how did they break the TOS just by doing something that is actually already allowed?

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    This space unintentionally left blank.
  4. Re:Serves 'em RIGHT! by fido_dogstoyevsky · · Score: 2

    So, how did they break the TOS just by doing something that is actually already allowed?

    The TOS allows playing in an emulated windows evironment.

    But... Wine Is Not An Emulator.

    And that's enough until they think of a better reason.

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    It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
  5. Native Port by Only+Time+Will+Tell · · Score: 2

    It sounds like all this could be avoided on Blizzard's part by creating a Linux native port of the game. With all the Linux gaming love coming from Valve/Steam, it seems like as good of a time as any.