Permanent Hearthstone Ban for Players Using Bots

Blizzard has temporarily suspended several thousand Hearthstone accounts for suspected use of AI bots to gain an advantage, and warns that permanent bans could follow.

In recent weeks the Hearthstone community has suspected various players have begun using unofficial software that calculates decisions in games and makes automatic moves. Some even claim that these automatic bots have reached Legendary Rank, an achievement usually so difficult that it has only been achieved by 0.2 percent of players.

The video above shows how one bot managed to defeat the popular Hearthstone competitor Jeffrey "Trump" Shih, with telltale signs in its play strategy.

Player accounts which Blizzard accuses of using bot technology will be suspended until 2015, the developer wrote on its official blog. Those caught using bots henceforth will face permanent bans without warning.

"As we’ve stated, fair play is at the core of the Hearthstone experience, and cheating and botting will not be tolerated," the developer wrote.

"We’re committed to creating a fun and rewarding environment for our players, and we will continue to closely monitor activities within Hearthstone and take appropriate action against cheating in any form, as outlined in our Terms of Use."

Since its formal release in March, Hearthstone has amassed some 20 million registered players via PC and iPad. Android tablets will be the next platform Blizzard has targeted for release, with ports for iPhone and Android smartphones expected next year.

The developer adds that those who detect any suspicious behaviour should email hacks@blizzard.com.