The Cost of Cheating

A US judge just ordered a $175,000 fine against a Fortnite cheater, following a lawsuit brought by Epic Games last December. Epic also issued a lifetime ban.

It’s a rare move in the West and signals a shift in how seriously cheating is being treated. And while this feels like a landmark case in the US/West, South Korea set that tone years ago.

In 2017, Korea passed legislation making the creation and distribution of game cheats a criminal offense, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or fines of up to ₩50 million (~$43,000). A year later, they expanded it to include account boosting. Since then, multiple cheat developers and boosters have received suspended prison sentences and fines for targeting games like Overwatch and League of Legends.

It’s a long-term strategy aimed at protecting an entire industry, by treating gaming like the serious commercial and cultural force it is. Korea recognized early that once cheating is commercialized, it requires a response stronger than bans or community moderation.

The result? A stronger deterrent, less tolerance for grey areas, and a clearer message to players, developers, and sponsors: integrity is the foundation of competitive play.

It raises the question: if gaming is now global, professional, and high-stakes, should more countries adopt Korea’s model, and treat cheating not just as bad behavior, but as a crime against the industry itself?