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PunkBuster

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
PunkBuster
PunkBuster cover
Developers
Even Balance
Release dates
Windows 2000
Linux ?
macOS (OS X) ?

PunkBuster is a program created by Even Balance Inc. designed to detect forms of cheating in online games. It has been used in several prominent multiplayer games up until 2015, where development seemingly ceased as no new games were released with the anti-cheat protection, nor were any more updates or news published regarding PunkBuster on the official website.[1] Although it was in development since 2000, it was known to still cause problems with other programs and certain hardware configurations years after its initial release.

General information

Official website

Installing

Most games that require PunkBuster for multiplayer will install it when the game itself is installed. In cases where it is not, details on installing PunkBuster can be found at their website.

Updating

On occasion PunkBuster may release an update for a specific game. In this case, the game will usually kick you from servers if you are running an old version of PunkBuster for the game. To update the version of PunkBuster for a specific game, download PBSetup.exe from their website. If the game you want to update isn't listed in the main view, select Add Game and find the game you are looking for. Once it has been added to the main window, select the game then select check for updates. If there is an update available, PunkBuster will then install it.

Known problems

  • Some 64-bit games are not compatible with PunkBuster, requiring the user to play the 32-bit version of the game to play online.
  • Some older games that use PunkBuster require administrator privileges to play online properly.
  • The Steam overlay causes problems with PunkBuster, it is therefore recommended that you disable the Steam overlay for all PunkBuster games.
  • PunkBuster is not compatible with Wine, and possibly other similar compatibility layers, due to harsh API entry signature checks.[2]

List of PunkBuster titles

The below table includes all games that have historically used PunkBuster. Some of these titles do not use it any longer.
Name Released Notes
America's Army 2002
America's Army: Proving Grounds 2015
APB Reloaded 2010 Used both in APB (Brazil Edition) and APB Reloaded.[3][4]
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 2010
Assassin's Creed: Revelations 2011 [5]
Assassin's Creed III 2012 [6]
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 2013 Used PunkBuster initially but was eventually removed.[7][8]
Battlefield 1942 2002
Battlefield 2 2005
Battlefield 2142 2006
Battlefield 3 2011 [9]
Battlefield 4 2013 [10]
Battlefield Hardline 2015 [11]
Battlefield Heroes 2009
Battlefield Play4Free 2011
Battlefield Vietnam 2004
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 2010
Blacklight: Retribution 2012 [12][13]
Bullet Run 2012 [14]
Call of Duty 2003
Call of Duty 2 2005
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2007
Call of Duty: World at War 2008
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate 2007
Far Cry 3 2012 [15]
H-Hour: World's Elite 2015 Used as a supplement for VAC between September, 2015 and May 2017.[16][17]
Infestation: Survivor Stories Classic 2012 [18]
Medal of Honor (2010) 2010
Medal of Honor: Warfighter 2012 [19]
Need for Speed: ProStreet 2007
Need for Speed: Undercover 2008
Quake 4 2005
Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad 2011
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix 2002
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms 2014 [20]
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier 2012 [21]
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield 2003
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown 2006
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2006
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 2008
Wolfenstein 2009


References

  1. ↑ Verified by User:Aemony on 2018-09-04
    Latest "announcement" on https://www.evenbalance.com/ is from Fri Jan 16 2015 12:00 about Battlefield Hardline using PunkBuster. Latest "PB News" is from July 2015 as well.
  2. ↑ Bug 9685: Punkbuster removes me from game for UNKNOWN WINDOWS API FUNCTION [131124] (Not a Wine bug) - WineHQ Bugzilla - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  3. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Fri Oct 26 2012 12:00
    Hoplon Infotainment S.A. has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to support the Brazil edition of APB with our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software.    "
  4. ↑ PC Gamer - APB Reloaded will be protected by PunkBuster - last accessed on 2018-09-04
  5. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Wed Oct 19 2011 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Assassin's Creed® Revelations.    "
  6. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Mon Oct 29 2012 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Assassin's Creed® III.    "
  7. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Tue Nov 19 2013 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Assassin's Creed® 4 Black Flag.    "
  8. ↑ Verified by User:Aemony on 2018-09-04
    Installed the game and joined a multiplayer session. PunkBuster were nowhere to be seen.
  9. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Tue Aug 23 2011 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Ghost Recon Online.    "
  10. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Tue Aug 27 2013 12:00
    Electronic Arts Inc. has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into Battlefield 4™. We will soon be opening a section on our website to support PunkBuster™ for Battlefield 4.    "
  11. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Fri Jan 16 2015 12:00
    Electronic Arts Inc. has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into Battlefield Hardline™.    "
  12. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Sun Jan 08 2012 12:00
    Perfect World Entertainment, Inc. has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the free to play online first person shooter title known as Blacklight: Retribution.    "
  13. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Fri Apr 04 2014 12:00
    IAH Games has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the free to play online first person shooter title known as "Blacklight: Retribution" for the Southeast Asia region.    "
  14. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Sun Jul 08 2012 12:00
    Sony Online Entertainment LLC has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Bullet Run™. Bullet Run is a free-to-play team-based FPS that puts players in the ultimate reality TV game show, where contestants showcase their deadly talents in the name of fame.    "
  15. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Thu Nov 29 2012 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Far Cry 3™.    "
  16. ↑ Steam News - H-Hour: World's Elite - 19 September, 2015 - Server Downtime & Patch Notes - Release 2.3.1.9 - last accessed on 2018-09-04
  17. ↑ Steam News - H-Hour: World's Elite - 2 May, 2017 - Patch 3.0.5 Release - 02 May 2017 - last accessed on 2018-09-04
  18. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Fri Jan 04 2013 12:00
    OP Productions LLC has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the survival mmo Zombie Game known as Infestation, developed by Hammerpoint Interactive.    "
  19. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Fri Jul 06 2012 12:00
    Electronic Arts Inc. has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into Medal of Honor™ Warfighter.    "
  20. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Mon Jul 18 2011 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Ghost Recon Online.    "
  21. ↑ Even Balance, Inc. - PunkBuster Online Countermeasures - last accessed on 2018-09-04
    "Wed Jun 27 2012 12:00
    Ubisoft has contracted with Even Balance, Inc. to integrate our PunkBuster™ Anti-Cheat software into the online game known as Ghost Recon Future Soldier™.    "