FACEIT Tightens Verification for High-Ranked Players Ahead of CS2 Season 7

18.11.2025 - 09:48

FACEIT Tightens Verification for High-Ranked Players Ahead of CS2 Season 7

FACEIT has introduced a major round of security and integrity updates for Counter-Strike 2 shortly before the launch of Season 7. The platform is tightening verification for high-ELO players, adjusting Premium matchmaking requirements, and rolling out a fully redesigned reporting system. These changes were announced through FACEIT’s official channels and widely covered by esports media.

Stricter Checks for Suspicious and High-ELO Accounts

FACEIT will now temporarily restrict suspicious accounts from matchmaking while they undergo additional integrity reviews.

For players with very high ELO, the platform is adding deep verification steps designed to stop smurfing, account sharing, and boosting. The system can flag anomalous accounts for additional checks, after which FACEIT staff may require:

A live video call to confirm identity through facial movement

A supervised match played under moderator observation

FACEIT is also introducing a “Selfie Re-Check,” requiring previously verified players to submit a fresh selfie if their activity becomes suspicious. This update is intended to hinder account selling or sharing.

Players who successfully pass the new verification process receive a special trust badge on their profiles, confirming that the account has undergone enhanced review.

These measures extend the existing Anti-Cheat Smurf Detection system. Previously, flagged smurf or multi-account profiles were given 72 hours to complete verification or face a block. Confirmed smurf accounts receive permanent bans, while associated main accounts may face temporary penalties.

Premium Match: New Requirements and Queue Access Changes

FACEIT is also making substantial adjustments to its high-quality matchmaking queues.

Premium Super Match has been renamed to Premium Match.

Previously, any Premium subscriber could access it after 30 games, even without verification.

Now, players must:

Hold an active Premium subscription

Have verified their identity

Have played between 50 and 600 matches, depending on their Elo range

The Veteran-Only Matching feature is also being expanded. Verified Premium subscribers will be able to enable this filter not only in Premium Match but also in 5v5 Standard and Super Match modes. According to FACEIT, these changes aim to increase trust and reduce the presence of smurfed or freshly purchased accounts in advanced queues.

A New, More Detailed Reporting and Complaint System

FACEIT has replaced its old reporting interface—including the well-known “FBI” button—with a unified, more functional system.

Players can now:

Select the specific round in which an incident occurred

Attach screenshots or video clips

Provide detailed written descriptions

More detailed, “high-quality” reports will be prioritized by the moderation team.

The window for submitting complaints has been expanded to six hours after a match ends. FACEIT will also send status updates for each stage of the review process: confirmation of receipt, ongoing review, and final decision.

Additional support updates include:

A simplified smurf-reporting flow directly from player profiles

Updated Elo and ban FAQs explaining when Elo is restored after bans for cheating, smurfing, or ban evasion

Season 7 Start Date and Elo Reset

FACEIT Season 7 begins on 19 November 2025 at 20:00 Moscow time, with an Elo reset for level-10 players scheduled earlier the same day at 18:00. These resets, combined with verification improvements, are intended to give high-ranked players a cleaner, more competitive start.

Massive Ban Waves Against Smurfs and Cheaters

The update follows several recent large-scale ban waves:

12 November 2025: FACEIT banned 11,057 accounts for multi-account abuse and smurfing. In many cases, smurf accounts received permanent bans, while the associated main account received a one-month suspension.

Within the same week, FACEIT recorded another wave of more than 10,000 bans, again primarily for smurfing.

20 October 2025: FACEIT issued 232 bans in one day for third-party cheat usage—a sharp increase compared to the usual 5–20 daily bans.

Another detailed community breakdown noted a day with 14,478 bans, with more than 11,000 linked to smurfing or multi-accounting.

FACEIT’s updated Banning Policy stresses that correctly applied bans are not overturned and that repeat offenders may face permanent sanctions.

Community Reactions

Across Reddit and other community platforms, reactions have been largely positive toward FACEIT’s anti-smurf efforts.

Players shared comments such as:

“I logged in to a few bans and +49 ELO. If they keep removing smurfs, that will be a huge W.”

“Good to see someone finally trying to deal with smurfing.”

“I scrolled the whole ban list—no cheating bans, just smurfs and multi-accounts.”

After the 14k-account ban wave, many joked that “ELO finally matters again.”

During a recent AMA session with FACEIT’s Anti-Cheat Team, staff confirmed that detection rates for smurfs and cheaters have increased significantly thanks to improved technology, although they cautioned that community accusations do not always match actual infractions.