Battlefield 3: DICE warns of Origin bans

By Robert Purchese Published 3 October, 2011

Stay away from unofficial servers.

Playing the Battlefield 3 beta on an unofficial server may net you an Origin account ban, DICE has warned.

Associate producer Bazajaytee asked gamers to "avoid temptation".

"Playing on those servers can cause your account to become compromised, stats to be altered or other issues to arise which may lead to having your account banned by EA," he wrote on the Origin BF3 beta forum (pic via VE3D).

"If your account gets banned it does mean any EA game you have on your account would also be unavailable."

Official Battlefield 3 beta servers run the Operation Metro map for 32 people in game mode Rush.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (52) Latest comment 8 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Jonny5Alive7 #1 8 months ago

    Blocking access to any EA game sounds a bit harsh. Maybe if you could actually connect to the EA servers it might help.

  • mrlaurentisdead #2 8 months ago

    Sounds like a harsh punishment for something gamers may have a perfectly legitimate reason to do. EA best keep their servers always up, of consistent high quality and allow all the necessary flexibility then!

    EDIT: @FireMonkey - I guess I just miss the days when gaming wasn't so damn serious and caught up in the world of business. Back when all this was fields, if my friends and I all had a game and we wanted to play around with silly ideas, mods and anything else, we just did it. No-one banned us from anything, we just spent 30 minutes playing games with less gravity or double-speed or whatever else, had a bit of fun and then went back to vanilla because it's ultimately better in most cases.
    Edited by mrlaurentisdead at 03/10/11 @ 10:33

  • gm914 #3 8 months ago

    Probably best we just steer clear of all EA games, then.

  • AcidSnake #4 8 months ago

    "If your account gets banned it does mean any EA game you have on your account would also be unavailable."

    Isn't that a bit harsh? (Not that I think there are many people with many titles on Origin) Couldn't you just remove the one game?
    I suspect people might be playing on unofficial servers because the official ones aren't up to the job...

  • Ryze #5 8 months ago

    Tread carefully with the punishments, EA, or you'll push everyone to 'develop' an unofficial 'client' to connect to these unofficial servers.

  • FireMonkey #6 8 months ago

    "Sounds like a harsh punishment for something gamers may have a perfectly legitimate reason to do. EA best keep their servers always up, of consistent high quality and allow all the necessary flexibility then!"

    It's not really a legitimate reason though is it? If a shop sells out of a certain game is it then 'legitimate' for me to download a pirated copy?

    I say fair play. If people are going to be able to do this then they are also potentially going to be able rank up really quickly and get all the unlocks too soon which is unfair to everyone else.
    Edited by FireMonkey at 03/10/11 @ 09:24

  • daninthemix2 #7 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 11:46:59 28-04-2012

  • TheRealBadabing #8 8 months ago

    Is this what EA meant when they talked about how they wanted to look after their customers properly through Origin as opposed to EVIL Steam?

  • JahB #9 8 months ago

    This is exactly why I don't like these online services. Banning you from bf3 beta for messing around, fine. But banning you from any game that you bought through their service for trying to play a beta on a different server?

    No thanks, ill stick to physical media then.

  • bad09 #10 8 months ago

    Banning you from games is precisely why I hate DRM and accounts. I don't do anything dodgy but having my all games held to ransom like that is just wrong and plain unfair.

    Still if it ever did happen to me for whatever reason I'd pirate the shit out of every game they took from me and I would pirate every game after that.

  • jamieleng #11 8 months ago

    EA love is a Battlefield.

  • H_D_Swagger #12 8 months ago

    What negative effect does people playing on unnoficial servers have for EA? I don't see a problem, presumably there is one? Maybe not the best analogy but isn't this a bit like someone selling you a football and saying you're only supposed to use on a pitch they own, then finding you playing on another pitch and taking the ball back?!

  • hiddenranbir #13 8 months ago

    "Is this what EA meant when they talked about how they wanted to look after their customers properly through Origin as opposed to EVIL Steam?"

    Well, Valve have banned for a lot less and give very little back in terms of getting in touch about it. Even mistaken bans are a bitch to undo.

  • gm914 #14 8 months ago

    Everyone aware that in EA's new ToS they've jumped on Sony's wagon and now you can't sue them either?
    Not that I'm about to sue anyone, but wtf is up with companies these days stating they're above the law??

  • rob_of_the_robots #15 8 months ago

    "It's not really a legitimate reason though is it? If a shop sells out of a certain game is it then 'legitimate' for me to download a pirated copy? "

    You could always get it from a different shop.

  • TormDK #16 8 months ago

    #14 You can sue them just fine as a single individual. What they are trying to stop you from doing is a collective lawsuit, known as class action lawsuits.

  • jumpdeveraux #17 8 months ago

    Sounds like a failure of EA.com/Origin to be able to handle per-game bans which results in a bizarrely punitive outcome for playing on what is a public beta of an as yet unreleased final game.

    I can't quite rationalise given the Beta is also given away for free how they can ban you for other games which you may play entirely "by the rules" and have actually paid EA for. Aren't they purging all beta data from accounts before BF3 officially launches anyway?

  • robostac #18 8 months ago

    They haven't released the server files, so any unofficial servers are running a version that they shouldn't have access too. Also most of them are 'cheat' servers that give you far more experience/kills than the real servers (if you check the leaderboards, some people have 300,000 kill streaks, and over 1 million score per minute).

  • Ranger101 #19 8 months ago

    Microsoft ban accounts if you play on 'infected' lobbies for the Call of Duty games - this includes losing all games and DLC as well.
    Valve have a clause in their contracts that threatens the same thing.

    Standard practice now, nothing to see here.

  • AcidSnake #20 8 months ago

    @Ranger101:
    Yes, but that's only XBL games...They don't come to your house to break the discs or brick your console to stop it from playing games...
    With an online distribution system like Origin (or Steam) killing your whole catalogue because you cheated/used another server for one game is a bit much...IMO...

  • bad09 #21 8 months ago

    Valve only ban you from that game though don't they? I don't think they kill your whole Steam collection.

  • gm914 #22 8 months ago

    @ #16 which we all know is useless as their army of lawyers will crush any individual suit.
    And everyone knows it.
    By nullifying our right to sue collectively, they're effectively free to do as they please.
    The only right you are left standing with is the right to not purchase their products, which I recommend doing.
    This of course, leads to piracy. After all, it's the consumers who are being punished, but not the pirates.
    SH_NANIG_NS- fill in the blanks.

  • NKSR #23 8 months ago

    Right, so if I join a server listed on Origin which unbeknown to me is unofficial I could be banned? How do I know which one is which?

    seriously dice, fuck off

  • Nova1977 #24 8 months ago

    I hate this exclusive crap they keep doing and they always make deals with the worst service providers. Always.

  • Ranger101 #25 8 months ago

    @AcidSnake - neither do EA (come into your house and break your discs, or stop your PC from playing games).

    You are aware that XBL is also a content distribution system, the same as Origin and Steam, which does also sell hundreds of XBLA games and thousands of Indie titles? A ban from Microsoft also kills all your rights to playing your XBLA and XBLIG titles too, as well as DLC content, not to mention Live functionality.

    It's the same with Steam too.

    It's suddenly become popular to rag of EA and Origin, they're the new whipping boy (no thanks to reddit), but they're not doing anything new. Complain about it, but I suggest you throw Apple, Valve and Microsoft in there as well for some flogging.
    Edited by Ranger101 at 03/10/11 @ 10:32

  • Ranger101 #26 8 months ago

    Edit -- forget it, it's a monday and I have more work to do then get into a retarded debate on Eurogamer.
    Edited by Ranger101 at 03/10/11 @ 10:34

  • aphex187 #27 8 months ago

    @FireMonkey

    Having your games removed is a bit OTT but i do agree with you on how this upsets the balance of levelling up, it's evident on a YouTube video i watched last night which was on one of these servers. The guy just laid down and spammed his LMG because the bullets kept on replenishing themselves so no need to reload! Plus people reporting that players had crazy levels and they too witnessed themselves ranking up in record time!

  • asphaltcowboy #28 8 months ago

    @H_D_Swagger The negative effect for them is that this is a BETA - they're trying to gauge network performance, stat servers, peak times etc. If people are off playing on other servers it's a waste of money and they get a bad data sample.

    EDIT: Obviously it potentially also opens up the system to cheating, stat-padding and whatnot.
    Edited by asphaltcowboy at 03/10/11 @ 10:52

  • AcidSnake #29 8 months ago

    @Ranger101:
    Yeah, relax :) Opinions...

    What I took away from the article was that they said:
    "If your account gets banned it does mean any EA game you have on your account would also be unavailable."

    As in unplayable...Maybe I'm misunderstanding that but it seems they'll kill all your games if you mess up in one...I already said XBL does the same thing, but if you buy a disc and get banned from live the disc still works and you still get to play your games...From what I understand Origin would kill your whole collection...

    I'm not against Origin in principle (I think it's a superfluous service, but they almost always start out that way) nor am I pro Steam or Apple...If they adopt the same "we'll kill your whole collection" attitude I'd hold the same opinion on them, that it's a bit much...

  • uknortherner2000 #30 8 months ago

    @Ranger101: "neither do EA (come into your house and break your discs, or stop your PC from playing games)."

    You are wrong. EA faced a class-action lawsuit in the States for using SecuROM as a means to disable DVD writers and applications.

    Incidentally, EULAs are not legally binding in the UK. EA can grunt and groan as much as they like, but legally, they haven't got a leg to stand on.
    Edited by uknortherner2000 at 03/10/11 @ 11:56

  • Buran #31 8 months ago

    The Battlefield 3 beta is a massive clusterf***. I'll avoid the game until a 10 € sale and being sure that has at least two dozens of patches. Origin + Battlelog + the game required to simultaneously running at the same time + poor support for Opera, Chrome and Safari browsers killed half of the hype to me.

    Paris Metro is also the worst Battlefield map ever, killed the other half of the hype.

  • rtk79 #32 8 months ago

    I don't get this : aren't servers accessed through the battlelog thing ? And isn't that under EA's exclusive control ?

  • Mr_Brown #33 8 months ago

    EA "Our online servers are unstable and completely unreliable and have been so for almost 10 years since they acquired them. By the way if you cannot access them but still want to play our games we'll ban you. Oh by the way we don't want you playing our games on steam because they are to user friendly"
    ."

    Cheers EA. Electronic Arts, being absolute counts for over 10 years.

  • danidrums #34 8 months ago

    Jamieleng #11 I see what you did there ;)

  • clean515 #35 8 months ago

    Dear EA : You can fuck right off. You don't fucking threaten your customers with bans and losing all their games when it's your fault that all kinds of servers suddenly pop up. When I opened my server browser and saw conquest mode do you expect me to go to your forum to find some locked thread about the subject first? No, fuck off. Also origin still sucks.

  • devinshockwell #36 8 months ago

    I would argue that under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) the games I bought are unfit for purpose and demand a full refund if they barred me in anyway!
    Edited by devinshockwell at 03/10/11 @ 12:35

  • Neil__ #37 8 months ago

    @FireMonkey
    What a stupid analogy.
    Using a different server isn't like pirating a game when it sells out it's like buying it from a different shop.

  • Rusty_M #38 8 months ago

    Do these unofficial servers appear in the battlelog server browser? If so, how do we tell them apart?

  • Spekingur #39 8 months ago

    But what if the unofficial servers are more stable and have less cheating than their own servers? :o

    I'd agree with 'multiplayer ban' or something similar to what Steam's VAC does but this looks like a bit of a overreaction - especially if Origin is going to be as intergrated in to upcoming EA games as they plan to.

  • Iain815 #40 8 months ago

    So if I click 'Quick Match', and Battlelog puts into one of these modded servers, it'll be MY fault? And as a result I will be banned from all my EA games?

    Well then, you can FUCK RIGHT OFF.

  • orangpelupa #41 8 months ago

    @ranger
    i have banned xbox console and the DLC etc all still working online 100% no error except XBLIG. But even when not banned you need to be online to play XBLIG games. weird DRM.

    if i remember correctly, your license is tied to CONSOLE and PROFILE.

    tied to console = available when offline/online.
    tied to profile = available when online.

    so on my not banned xbox i can use profile from banned xbox to access the content but i need to be online.
    on my banned console i dont need online to access the content.


    also you can transfer the license to the new console so content available online/offline.

    its "Transfer License" in the option appear after you press A on your avatar on dashboard.

  • Aradiel #42 8 months ago

    Wait, is this applicable to the beta, where the stats will get reset when the game is actually released? Maybe they should treat some of the unofficial servers as something to integrate into the testing?

    I'm mainly saying this because I went on a server the other day which I suspect was unofficial, even though there was absolutely no indication of that (and it was visible in the server browser on battlelog) so I went on due to ignorance - to have my account cut off due to that is overkill.

  • Gastrian #43 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 17:56:43 13-04-2012

  • Pup #44 8 months ago

    "But what if I want to join an unranked server, for a chilled out game where I dont have to worry about my stats? Or what if I want to join a server without arsing around on a webpage just to find a server?"

    I dunno if you have seen battlelog, but you can filter for ranked or unranked servers, if you want a muck around without affecting your stats. There is also the 'Quick Matc' button, which will just get you on a server without having to 'arse around on a webpage' :)

  • cyber_nicco #45 8 months ago

    I guess I don't know what they mean by "official" servers. Do they mean EA servers? I know in BFBC2 I can never, ever browse ANY EA servers. I do not know if they even exist.

    Does this mean that if I have the same situation with BF3 I am putting myself at risk of being banned?

  • Spekingur #46 8 months ago

    @Gastrian: But it's joining a server in a game. How can my Origin account become compromised by that alone? If I go on a non-VAC server (or non-official server) I might be presented with a cheating server. My account didn't get compromised. I have joined MW2 servers that were 'modded' causing on team to see through walls, have no-clip, low gravity, endless ammo, etc but I did not get banned. I have the same happen to me on a L4D2 server weirdly enough, but only once. Did not get banned. My account did not get compromised.

  • stoopidgreg #47 8 months ago

    Apparently you can join a hacked server unknowingly just by clicking the quick match button. And EA are banning people for that? wtf

  • arcam #48 8 months ago

    BF3 is already monitored by Punkbuster, and the punishment for cheating is usually that you can no longer play on any secure servers (often including other Punkbuster or VAC games). Why banning people from their entire Origin accounts is being talked about I do not know.

  • Gastrian #49 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 17:56:43 13-04-2012

  • Spekingur #50 8 months ago

    @Gastrian: But my point was, how can my account become compromised by joining a server? Is the game sending my login information to the server? If not then why even mention this in the first place?

    @arcam: Too bad that Punkbuster isn't enabled during the beta.
    Edited by Spekingur at 03/10/11 @ 22:57

  • shadowdogg #51 8 months ago

    What a bunch of cocks. Dice, your beginning to annoy me now...

  • Gastrian #52 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 17:56:43 13-04-2012