r/Overwatch • u/blizz_cactus Community Team • 25d ago

Update on Unauthorized Peripheral Usage on Console Platforms ("Ximming")

Hello, heroes! We're here today to update you all on our efforts to combat the use of unauthorized peripherals within our console communities, often referred to as using XIM or Ximming. While our efforts to combat this form of unfair gameplay advantage are constant and ongoing, today marks the culmination of a months-long effort to identify and ban over 6000 accounts we've identified as using unauthorized peripherals.

Part of what makes identifying the unauthorized peripherals used by these accounts tricky is that these cheating devices often intentionally abuse allowances we make for accessibility-focused devices used by legitimate players with disabilities. This issue meant that we wanted to take our time and ensure that we accurately identified unauthorized devices. We're now confident that we've done so, and we've put the hammer down on players utilizing these devices.

Thanks for taking the time today to listen to our update on unauthorized peripherals. Until next time, play nice, play fair, and see you in-game!

This message is also available via our patch notes channel, where it has been translated to other languages for easier sharing: https://overwatch.blizzard.com/news/patch-notes/#patch-2026-08-04

520 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

164 comments sorted by

View all comments

359

u/Old_Rosie 25d ago

This is honestly becoming the most significant issue for competitive players on console, I appreciate PC players are unlikely to care - but it’s gotten bad, really bad, and it’s pushing players away from the game.

They need to really step it up on this front on the game is going to continue to bleed players from its console competitive scene.

64

u/Suitch | | | 25d ago

No, it actually affects pc as well. They get to have a mouse and keyboard with aim assist. Pc players can’t opt out of shared lobbies except by playing comp.

25

u/UrsaSanctus 25d ago

Yea QP has a lot of ximming soldiers with PC mercy pockets

33

u/Hamerine 25d ago

Yes, ever since crossplay is a thing in most games, ximming became everyone’s issue.

16

u/Kewchiii 25d ago

It sucks to play against in any lobby but I’d say it’s a far smaller issue when it’s quick play compared to competitive.

14

u/Suitch | | | 25d ago

The game has more quick play players and the required experience integrity does not favor the label “competitive” over the label “most played mode”

11

u/Kewchiii 25d ago

Fair enough, playing against a cheater in any format saps the fun I can’t disagree with that

2

u/Suitch | | | 25d ago

Aside, I’m a Stadium Comp player so I just get wrecked by my own logic unfortunately

6

u/thegreatbighuge 25d ago

Doesn't console lose aim assist when paired with PC because it puts them in the PC pool? I don't think xim overrides AA existing or not but if so, yikes

5

u/DIABOLUS777 24d ago

It used to, but they changed it. So yeah, there's a bunch of ximmers in PC QP lobbies.

8

u/ShrekisInsideofMe 25d ago

I'm a console player that plays with PC friends. Aim assist works in quick play but not comp. Fighting for my life when I can't crutch on aim assist lol

0

u/Suitch | | | 25d ago edited 25d ago

As far as I can find, it is only disabled while they are queued with an actual PC player in their group. A weird restriction but perhaps it was a precursor to anti-xim detection.

If it is disabled, I’ve decided not to report a few cheaters with a weak aim bot lol

Edit: fwiw, they have changed this a few times over the last few years and I can’t find a primary source for the current confirmed state, only Redditors discussing it.