Cheating has become an increasingly major concern among Asian gamers. It's not only a matter of unfairness. Niko's recent survey which included over 6,500 Asian gamers, revealed that in-game cheating is the top issue negatively affecting the gaming experience. The problem is particularly pronounced among PC gamers, with 21% citing cheating as the primary issue disrupting their gameplay. Beyond just frustration, the consequences of widespread cheating extend deeper, affecting key user segments that drive the industry’s revenue.
One of the biggest concerns for game developers is how cheating impacts their most valuable players - often referred to as "whales" - who spend significant amounts of money on in-game purchases. When these high spenders become a victim of cheating, their engagement and spending habits are likely to decline, leading to a direct hit in revenue. Without strong anti-cheat measures, companies risk alienating their most profitable users, ultimately paying a steep price for not addressing the problem. This Knowledge Brief explores the impact of cheating and estimates the hidden cost that developers and publishers must pay for unaddressed cheating.
Niko Knowledge Briefs are timely short-form topic reports written by Niko’s senior analysts using Niko’s proprietary data on Asia and MENA. Based on Niko's proprietary data and insights, we write and publish a new Knowledge Brief every two weeks. These short-form reports empower companies to access Niko's high-integrity data, insights, and research in a bite-sized format.
One of the biggest concerns for game developers is how cheating impacts their most valuable players - often referred to as "whales" - who spend significant amounts of money on in-game purchases. When these high spenders become a victim of cheating, their engagement and spending habits are likely to decline, leading to a direct hit in revenue. Without strong anti-cheat measures, companies risk alienating their most profitable users, ultimately paying a steep price for not addressing the problem. This Knowledge Brief explores the impact of cheating and estimates the hidden cost that developers and publishers must pay for unaddressed cheating.
Niko Knowledge Briefs are timely short-form topic reports written by Niko’s senior analysts using Niko’s proprietary data on Asia and MENA. Based on Niko's proprietary data and insights, we write and publish a new Knowledge Brief every two weeks. These short-form reports empower companies to access Niko's high-integrity data, insights, and research in a bite-sized format.
Table of Contents
List of Exhibits- Most Disliked Elements of Gaming as Reported by Gamers
- Likelihood of Gamers to Find Cheating as the -Single Biggest Issue in Gaming Relative to the Average
- Magnitude of Cheating by Asian Country
- Cheating is Becoming an Increasing Problem Over Time
