Petition on Change.org - Gameguard should be removed or replaced by the devs - MkII

[Oakatusz]

I wanted to let everyone know, that user Twisted Kindness started a petition a few days ago on Change.org to inspire the developers to remove this dangerous nProtect Gameguard anti-cheat from Helldivers II.

If you have a moment, please sign it here and share it with your fellow gamers so they sign it too:

https://www.change.org/p/revoke-kernel-level-anti-cheat-in-helldivers-2-for-enhanced-device-safety

If you want to learn more about the plethora of issues this malicious software causes for players of Helldivers II, more info can be found here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/2/4206994023681304166/


Addendum:
The last thread, which was topping the General Discussion not long ago
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/0/4372501943309808762/
was closed because of some people got into arguments.

Therefore, I hereby ask everyone to remain civil and discuss the issue at hand in a calm manner to avoid any situation like this moving forward.

UPDATE 1 - DEVS STARTED INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS

I have very encouraging news for every current and potential player of Helldivers II!

It is now confirmed by a dev, that Arrowhead Studios have started an internal discussion about the matter of Gameguard anti-cheat. They also acknowledged that they see that the community indeed considers the matter of the anti-cheat a very hot topic.

I personally really hope, that this internal discussion will be fruitful. Here's hoping that Arrowhead will make the right decision and remove or replace Gameguard once and for all.

You can find screenshots from the official discord confirming the above information here:
https://imgtr.ee/image/Iucwxa

I want to thank users sharkrkk and Royal Mail for bringing this information to my attention.

UPDATE 2

I am back with another update, but the worst I was afraid of is already happening - hardware failures and data loss because of Gameguard. You can find the reports of users documented with links in my latest update for the documentation of issues Gameguard causes fo players of Helldivers II:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/2/4206994023681304166/?ctp=18#c7599331480044738880

At this point it is obvious that this trashfire of a software is a potential danger for the PC of all players.

UPDATE 2.1 - FURTHER ACKOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE DEVS, MAJOR INTERNAL TALKS ABOUT GAMEGUARD INCOMING

Hey everyone!


I am back with another very encouraging update! The Arrowhead dev, who were already kind before to answer the community's questions about the issues with Gameguard answered some of our fellow players on discord.

In his answer he acknowledged that our petition on change.org as well as our big thread here on Steam in the Anticheat subforum (linked in the OP) were both refered to Arrowhead internal discussions! That is a big step forward in itself!

With regards to the plethora of documented severe issues including Gameguard causing problems to pheripherals, the dev ensured us that there will be major talks about Gameguard soon internally at Arrowhead "once part of the fires stop roaring" (server issues will be addressed properly).

This is very encouraging! Fingers crossed that the devs will be able to tackle the server issues soon and make the needed decision after about the removal or replacement of Gameguard.

So I hereby request everyone to spread the word among your fellow gamers - the more signatures on the petition we have and the more the devs see that we want Gameguard removed or replaced, the more chance we have for positive change in this regard.

Let's aim higher with our activity guys and gals, we are on the right track!


You can find the compiled screenshots about the answer of the dev here:
https://imgtr.ee/image/IucU0F

UPDATE 3 - ISSUE OF GAMEGUARD IN HELLDIVERS 2 IN THE PRESS

As of 23rd of February, 2024, the issue of Gameguard in the case of Helldivers is now in the gaming press:
https://www.pushtotalk.gg/p/the-gamers-do-not-understand-anti-cheat

The title of this damage control press piece is clickbaity and condescending. It also fails to mention the shady history of Gameguard about how many games removed it before because of the plethora of issues it caused for their players. Regardless, in the article even one of the experts asked confirms that Gameguard is invasive and does overreaching, risky stuff . His words, straight from the article:

Riot’s Phillip Koskinas has memories of GameGuard stretching back over a decade. “A version of it has been around since even I was a young lad cooking cheats on MapleStory and Gunz,” he says. (Almost all anti-cheat developers were once cheaters themselves, as they’ll gladly tell you.)

“Back then,” says Koskinas, “GameGuard was actually one of the ‘stronger’ anti-cheats, largely due to their willingness to do crazier stuff. A lot of these techniques are actually common sense or useless now, but back then, it was sort of atypical to be that wide of a watchdog. These days, it has held onto a reputation for being invasive, especially because it takes so much of its anti-cheat actions locally and instantly (closing windows, blocking processes, etc.). "

Roblox anti-cheat lead Clint Sereday was similarly unperturbed. He says that the negative player reviews Helldivers 2 is getting are off the mark.

“This is exactly the same concern as people have with any anti-cheat,” Sereday says. “The concern is a little more exaggerated here because Helldivers 2 is a PVE game. nProtect GameGuard could also be adding to the concern since it is a less-used 3rd party.”

I really hope that Arrowhead Studios finally heeds the feedback provided by current and potential players that obivously point to the direction that Gameguard has to be removed or replaced.

At this point it is widely documented that Gameguard causes severe problems for many players. The sooner Arrowhead devs get rid of Gameguard one way or another, the better as it is just harmful and a potential danger for honest players. It also prevents sales and continues to be a blight on the reputation on the otherwise fantastic looking Helldivers II.

So I hereby kindly encourage everyone who agrees to sign the petition, and invite your like-minded fellow gamers to do so!

The more people know about it and sign it, the better we can raise awareness about the severe problems Gameguard causes for people.

[Fidller™]

İlk olarak One death guy tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak MJ1911 tarafından gönderildi:

Keep it.

You know people that want it removed are the cheaters right?

what about people who want it to be changed to sth like EAC? Are they cheaters also?

EAC is a bigger joke than Ricochet

[One death guy]

İlk olarak Fidller™ tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak One death guy tarafından gönderildi:

what about people who want it to be changed to sth like EAC? Are they cheaters also?

EAC is a bigger joke than Ricochet

what is the best AC in your opinion then - like appear to know a thing or two more about those

which one is your no. 1 pick?

[OnaZuzu]

I support this and would have purchased the game if it wasn't connected to gameguard

[Fidller™]

İlk olarak One death guy tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak Fidller™ tarafından gönderildi:

EAC is a bigger joke than Ricochet

what is the best AC in your opinion then - like appear to know a thing or two more about those

which one is your no. 1 pick?

There's no real foolproof AC. Some try but people always get banned at one point due to human interaction. So far the worst ones are ♥♥♥♥ like VAC and EAC. TF2 is spinbotter heaven, CS2 also has alot of sus players usually being banned by Overwatch cases. EAC hardly does a thing in games like Division 2, Dead by Daylight (as i have heard), For Honor (scripting doesnt get blocked at all) Predator Hunting Grounds and even Rust. Battlefield 2042 is also using EAC but i've never had any sus players the first few months i played it. For a top 1. I'd say Battleye. It has it flaws but you see the irl bans happening atleast in Siege. Destiny 2 i never really encountered a cheater as far as i know before battleye was introduced. Tarkov also uses Battleye and is probably one of the hardest games to cheat on (People buy special hardware for it as seen by one previously banned streamer SuddenlyToast)

[The Cayute]

Signed, supported, awards given. I would rather some other anti-cheat be involved than something that apparently gets very invasive in my system and DOES NOT GET REMOVED when I uninstall the program that put it there and, from what I've been researching on the topic, apparently requires a lot of work to dig out even after you use the official uninstall solution.

[Calv]

İlk olarak The Cayute tarafından gönderildi:

something that apparently gets very invasive in my system and DOES NOT GET REMOVED when I uninstall the program that put it there and, from what I've been researching on the topic, apparently requires a lot of work to dig out even after you use the official uninstall solution.

The program, service and driver all get removed when you uninstall Helldivers.

Some update files are left in the game folder which isn't great but isn't really a concern either.

And some registry entries might remain, which again, isn't unusual or a reason for concern.

[MisterGordon]

Pve game, don't need anti cheat, nothing more to say

[Fidller™]

İlk olarak MisterGordon tarafından gönderildi:

Pve game, don't need anti cheat, nothing more to say

PvE Co-op does. Not fun for someone else to be in a game and having a cheater ruin it

[Sogreth]

İlk olarak MisterGordon tarafından gönderildi:

Pve game, don't need anti cheat, nothing more to say

PvE doesn’t automatically mean it shouldn’t have protection against cheaters. What a horrible point of view you have.

[GrizzlyOne95]

Signed.

[UNN Fleet Admiral O'Reilly]

İlk olarak Fidller™ tarafından gönderildi:

İlk olarak MisterGordon tarafından gönderildi:

Pve game, don't need anti cheat, nothing more to say

PvE Co-op does. Not fun for someone else to be in a game and having a cheater ruin it

Play with friends, problem solved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYunsiWHydE&pp=ygUXdHVybiBkb3duIGZvciB3aGF0IG1lbWU%3D

[Sharkle_Bunwich]

İlk olarak MisterGordon tarafından gönderildi:

Pve game, don't need anti cheat, nothing more to say

It does when the game has a global war mechanic that players actively contribute to by completing missions.

[B1G_DADDY_WES]

I actually purchased this game before realizing it used Nprotect. I ended up getting a refund but wish I didn't have to. Would like to purchase again but I am not willing to compromise my PC.

[RCFixer1140]

Idgaf

[ULTRA]

You WILL buy the game and WILL accept kernel-level access because if you don't then you're a cheater and I'll wet my pants and cry and return to FA because you don't like my toy.