Types of Bans in Games: Account, Device and Review States

“Game ban” is a broad label, not a single penalty shared by every publisher. Valve's two support articles distinguish VAC bans from developer-issued game bans on Steam. Riot describes an HWID ban as a restriction that can affect access from a physical computer. Activision describes limited matchmaking separately from temporary and permanent account bans. The notice and issuing publisher determine the restriction's scope.

An account restriction and a device restriction can coexist, but neither should be assumed from symptoms alone. If you can launch one title but cannot enter a particular mode, that observation does not identify the sanction type. Read the account notice, error text and publisher's current policy before treating a status as a ban. The HWID ban guide takes the device-specific question further.

Sources: [2][3][5]

Ban types in games describe different scopes and review states under the named publisher's policy. This table contains five publisher-documented categories or states checked on September 29, 2026; it does not claim that every publisher applies every type. “Limited matchmaking” is a review state in Activision's policy, so it appears separately from a permanent ban.

The covered game comparisons help identify the relevant publisher and game page first.

Sources: [1][2][3][4][5]

Riot's HWID policy says an active device ban can block logins and display VAN 152. Riot also says additional accounts used by that player may be banned. Embark's ARC Raiders help page describes its hardware ban differently: the specified PC cannot access Embark products, while the hardware ban itself does not affect the account. Embark says that ban is final and cannot be appealed. These statements describe two publishers' rules, not a universal hardware-ban mechanism.

Riot's device-and-account distinction matters when someone assumes a new account, a reinstall or a product can change a penalty. Riot explicitly says reinstalling the game or deleting the responsible account does not remove its HWID ban. The official route is to read the publisher's policy and use its support process if one exists. CheatsMatch's HWID spoofer comparisons describe listings and provider claims; they cannot establish whether a publisher will lift a ban or permit access.

• Ban evasion policies guide

Sources: [3][4]

Temporary, permanent and review states have different meanings under each publisher's named sanctions. Epic says Fortnite account bans may be temporary or indefinite. Activision separately lists temporary account bans, permanent account bans and limited matchmaking. Its policy says only permanent account bans are eligible for appeal, while its hardware bans are not. Those eligibility rules belong to Activision; they do not govern Riot, Epic or Embark.

This guide uses Activision's published term, limited matchmaking, rather than “shadowban”. A slower queue or a difficult lobby does not identify the account's official enforcement status. Use Activision's ban appeal page to check the account-specific status.

Sources: [5][6][7]

Valve describes VAC as an automated system that detects cheats on VAC-secured servers. Its support page distinguishes VAC bans from administrator-issued server bans. Valve's separate Game Ban FAQ says the game developer is responsible for deciding a developer game ban, even when Steam applies it. The same platform can therefore display restrictions with different decision makers and different effects.

A detection message should be interpreted through the exact game's rules rather than a generic account of “how anti-cheat bans work.” The Valve Anti-Cheat guide gives background on one named system.

• Ban waves guide

Sources: [1][2]

An official ban notice is the starting point for four practical questions: which account or game is named, what restriction is stated, whether a date or status is given and which publisher handles the appeal. Epic says its Fortnite ban email states the type, duration and violated rule. Preserve the notice's wording and any case or sanction identifier. Do not infer an IP or hardware ban solely from a queue delay, a connection error or another player's forum account.

Epic's sanctions process uses a Sanction ID to locate an appeal in its portal. Riot says VAN 152 accompanies an active HWID ban under its policy. Embark lists error codes for its own hardware ban. An error code is meaningful only under the publisher's documentation for that game and date.

Sources: [3][4][8]

Publisher appeal routes differ in eligibility and outcome. Riot permits a support request asking for re-evaluation of some HWID bans, with no guarantee of reversal. Embark says its hardware bans are final and non-appealable. Activision says only permanent account bans qualify for its ban appeal process. Epic directs Fortnite players with eligible sanctions to its Sanctions and Appeals Portal. Valve says an incorrectly issued VAC ban is removed automatically rather than reversed through a normal appeal.

Riot, Embark, Activision, Epic and Valve each state their own appeal or correction rule. Activision says a permanent ban will be overturned only if it determines the infraction was due to the Activision account being hacked. Check the current official rule before submitting an appeal.

• Game ban appeals guide

Sources: [1][3][4][5][7]

Game-specific policies provide the next level of ban detail. The Call of Duty Warzone comparison identifies the covered game, while Activision publishes the authoritative account status and appeal route. The Fortnite comparison and the Valorant comparison show provider-published listings for those games; Epic and Riot policy sources determine sanction rules. The guides directory lists current editorial coverage.

• Call of Duty bans guide
• Fortnite bans guide
• VALORANT bans guide
• Escape from Tarkov bans guide
• Rust bans guide
• Rainbow Six Siege bans guide
• Marvel Rivals bans guide
• PUBG bans guide