Steam Updates Online Guidelines to Address Smurfing in Dota 2
On May 11, Steam made revisions to its online conduct guidelines, clearly stating that smurfing is a form of cheating. The new guidelines demonstrate Steam’s commitment to keeping players in their appropriate skill brackets. However, Dota 2 fans are still skeptical about whether these changes will be fully enforced.
Although the addition of smurfing to the guidelines is a new development, Steam has long been against this practice in Dota 2. However, fans have noticed that the rules against smurfing were often overlooked in the game. As a result, they are unsure if the recent update will have the desired effect.
Related: What is smurfing in gaming?
Dota 2 players recently voiced their concerns about smurfing in a Reddit thread. Many also acknowledged Steam’s attempts to combat smurfing within the game.
In patch 7.33 of Dota 2, Valve implemented the Glicko ranked system, which aims to better identify smurfs. This system adjusts the amount of MMR a player wins or loses based on whether they are identified as a smurf, ultimately placing them in their true skill bracket.
Previously, Valve heavily relied on player reports to address smurfing. While smurfs who received enough reports faced matchmaking bans or additional calibration matches, the old system was slow and many players still encountered smurfs on a regular basis.
Despite including smurfing in the updated guidelines, Valve has yet to provide a clear definition of what constitutes smurfing. The developer appears to be taking steps to combat smurfs, but their approach has been gradual and vague, leading to a decline in community support.