GTA 5 Ban Wave Explained

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When it comes to online games, few titles come close to GTA Online's popularity. It can be a chaotic game, though it is possible to overcome it all, build massive empires, and enjoy the spoils of success. Though things get wild at times, there are still rules players have to abide by.

One of the rules is that accounts cannot be duplicated. Not everyone follows this, and Rockstar is aware. As a consequence, a massive ban wave has hit Grand Theft Auto Online, and reactions to it have been mixed.

GTA Online and the Account Duplication Glitch

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Since its conception, GTA has always presented a rags-to-riches story, with players resorting to crime to work their way up the social and economic ladder. Though this may seem like the easy route to success, it still takes a considerable amount of work. For some players, it's just too much effort, and the only fun part is the end game when all the riches have been acquired.

To skip that admittedly arduous grind of GTA Online, some players have resorted to account duplication glitches which allow players to copy the stats of another account. With this glitch, a new player can become a high-ranking one almost instantly, giving them all the money they need to have fun in Los Santos. Though this is convenient, it does violate GTA Online's terms of service.

Is the GTA Online Account Duplication Glitch New?

Account duplication is far from new in GTA Online; versions of it have been around for years. This isn't even the only GTA Online glitch available in the game and other ways have been found to glitch money, cars, or just annoy other players.

Rockstar Slams the Ban Hammer on Duplicated Accounts

Rockstar isn't happy about the glitch, and it's easy to understand why. Players resorting to glitches are acquiring free money instead of buying Shark Cards. Furthermore, it does create an uneven playing field where some players legitimately grind for everything they have while others get what they want through a simple glitch.

Consequently, in the last few weeks, there has been a massive ban-wave aimed at high-ranking accounts that have been duplicated. This has caused a stir in the community, as the glitch was somewhat popular. At present, it appears that this is affecting console players alone, and it's only the accounts being banned, not the consoles. Time will tell whether PC players will also be affected by Rockstar's ban wave.

What Has the Reaction Been to the Ban Wave?

On Reddit, some players have expressed frustration, arguing that Rockstar is ruining the fun by being a stickler for the rules. This isn't universal, however. Others have expressed joy at the ban wave and are happy that the developers are finally doing something about phony accounts that aren't playing fair in Grand Theft Auto Online.

Despite its age, GTA Online continues to maintain its popularity, and many users are invested in their legitimate accounts. It is these players who have their fingers crossed that they do not accidentally get caught in the huge net Rockstar is throwing out.