Epic Games, the company behind the global gaming hit Fortnite, has filed a major lawsuit against a developer and several sellers of cheating software that gives players an unfair advantage in the game.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, marks Epic’s ongoing commitment to fighting cheating in its online multiplayer platform.
According to court documents, Epic is suing Ediz Atas — also known online as “Sincey Cheats” and “Vanta Cheats.” Atas is accused of creating and selling cheat tools that allow Fortnite players to do things like see through walls (a common cheat called “wallhacks”) and automatically aim at other players (“aimbots”), giving them an advantage over regular players who follow the rules.
But that’s not all. Epic also named five unnamed resellers in the lawsuit. These individuals or groups, whose identities are currently unknown, are allegedly distributing the cheat software through websites, Discord communities, and even Telegram channels.
Epic says this illegal distribution directly impacts its business by hurting fair competition in Fortnite and pushing honest players to quit the game altogether.
What Is Epic Accusing the Cheat Maker Of?
Epic’s legal complaint outlines a long list of violations, including:
- Breaking Fortnite’s End-User License Agreement (EULA), which every player must accept before playing.
- Circumventing the game’s anti-cheat systems that are designed to detect and block unfair gameplay.
- Reducing player trust in the game, which leads to decreased sales of in-game items like skins and battle passes.
- Damaging Epic’s brand and reputation in the gaming industry.
The company also accuses Atas of sending fake emails to YouTube, pretending to be an Epic Games employee, to reverse takedown requests made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
These takedown requests were originally filed by Epic to remove YouTube videos that promoted or showcased the cheating software.
According to the lawsuit, Atas allegedly impersonated Epic employees by spoofing their official email addresses in communication with YouTube’s copyright department.
This kind of activity, if proven, not only violates copyright law but also opens the door to criminal consequences like fraud and identity misrepresentation.
Epic’s Battle Against Cheaters Is Ongoing
Epic Games says it has already banned tens of thousands of Fortnite accounts for using cheat tools linked to Sincey Cheats and Vanta Cheats. Just in the United States, over 15,000 bans have been issued since February 2022.
These bans show how seriously Epic treats the problem. Cheating doesn’t just affect competitive gaming — it can ruin the experience for everyday players, especially in fast-paced modes like Battle Royale and Ranked matches.
By allowing cheaters to dominate, new and casual players are pushed away from the platform, which can hurt Epic’s long-term success.
This isn’t the first time Epic has gone to court over cheating in Fortnite. Over the years, the company has taken a firm stance on game integrity. While some critics argue the company should focus more on in-game solutions rather than legal action, Epic believes both strategies are needed.
What’s Epic Looking to Gain From the Lawsuit?
Although the lawsuit doesn’t mention specific dollar amounts, Epic is seeking multiple forms of relief:
- Statutory and compensatory damages, meaning money for lost profits due to cheating-related player churn.
- Legal costs, including attorney’s fees and investigation expenses.
- A permanent ban on the defendants from ever creating, selling, or using cheating tools for Epic products.
In simple terms, Epic wants to make sure that both cheat creators and sellers are held fully responsible, not just to stop them from doing it again, but also to send a message to others thinking about entering the cheat software business.
Industry-Wide Efforts Against Cheating
Epic’s legal approach aligns with a larger industry trend. Other top game developers like Riot Games (creator of Valorant) and Bungie (developer of Destiny 2) have also sued cheat software developers.
In some cases, they’ve won multimillion-dollar judgments. These companies argue that cheating is not just a minor annoyance but a serious threat to the integrity of online gaming.
For instance, Riot Games once won a $10 million judgment against a popular cheat developer, and Bungie has followed a similar path, winning cases that resulted in permanent shutdowns of cheat-distribution websites.
These legal victories show that courts are starting to support game developers in their fight against software that ruins fair gameplay.
What Happens Next?
Now that the lawsuit has been filed, the legal process could take several months — or even years — to unfold. The next steps will likely include identifying the unnamed cheat resellers, gathering more evidence of cheating-related damage, and possibly negotiating settlements or going to trial.
If Epic wins, it could lead to stricter online monitoring and harsher consequences for cheating in games. It may also help the company clean up the Fortnite ecosystem, making it more enjoyable for honest players.
Summary
Cheating in games like Fortnite isn’t just about breaking rules — it affects millions of players, many of whom are kids and teens who want a fun, fair experience.
Epic Games is making it clear through this lawsuit that they won’t tolerate those who profit by ruining the game for others.
As more developers follow suit, it’s likely we’ll see fewer cheat sellers online — and better, fairer gameplay for everyone.
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