Bungie dropped a ban wave on Destiny 2 players who cheated during The Desert Perpetual Contest Mode. The studio also banned players who didn't cheat but still got boosted by teammates using hacks.
Player Finds Impossible Clear Times in Raid Data
Community member aquativityy spotted something fishy when Bungie released the Desert Perpetual API data last week. Teams were posting 10-20 minute clears when the world first team took over 15 hours.
After digging through the numbers, aquativityy called out 64 teams in the top 100 as obvious cheaters. Bungie saw the post and warned everyone that Contest Mode cheating would result in bans.
That warning became reality today.
Bans Hit Both Cheaters and Their Teammates
Bungie announced the ban wave alongside today's Solstice event launch. Their official statement was direct: "We have issued a ban wave against fireteams who were found cheating during The Desert Perpetual Contest Mode. This ban wave includes players who benefited from cheaters in their fireteam."
Even players who never touched a cheat program got banned for getting carried through Contest Mode by hackers. Bungie's treating it as violating their Community Code of Conduct.
The studio didn't say how many accounts got hit, but 64 flagged teams suggests it was substantial.
Contest Mode Makes Cheating Tempting
Desert Perpetual launched with the Edge of Fate expansion last month. Like other raids, it came with a 48-hour Contest Mode that offers exclusive rewards including guaranteed exotic weapons and emblems you can't get any other way.
Contest Mode cranks the difficulty way up and puts time pressure on teams. It's prestigious content that hardcore players chase, which explains why some decided to take shortcuts.
The world first team needed over 15 hours to clear it legitimately. Seeing 10-minute clears on the leaderboard made the cheating pretty obvious.
Bungie Takes Hard Stance on Fair Play
This ban wave shows Bungie's serious about protecting Contest Mode integrity. These events carry real prestige in the community, and keeping them clean matters.
The expanded punishment for beneficiaries sends a clear message that being on a team with cheaters isn't a free pass anymore. Everyone who gains from violations faces consequences.
Community detective work proved crucial here. Aquativityy's analysis of the API data exposed violations that weren't immediately obvious during the event.
What Happens Next
Desert Perpetual's Contest Mode ran in July 2025. Bungie released the API data a week later, letting players analyze the results. The actual bans came down today, weeks after the violations occurred.
This sets a new standard for Contest Mode policing. Teams can't assume they're safe just because they got away with it initially. Bungie will investigate suspicious times and hand out punishment later.
For legitimate players, this reinforces that Contest Mode achievements actually mean something. Bungie's willing to do the work to keep these completions valuable and fair.
At Boosting Ground, we don't condone cheating in any form. All our Destiny 2 services use legitimate methods and skilled players to help you achieve your goals without breaking game rules or risking your account.
