Epic Games bolstered its efforts in the everlasting struggle against Fortnite cheaters Monday when the developer acquired the game security company Kamu. The Helsinki-based firm announced the purchase on its website, with Kamu CEO Simon Allaeys celebrating the new union. “Joining the Epic family is not only a childhood dream come true, but a huge boost for our mission to help developers create beautiful gaming experiences,” said Allaeys.
The move signaled a vote of confidence by Epic in Kamu’s offerings as the developer was already utilizing Kamu’s suite of anti-cheating, security and player management services within the infrastructure of its mega-hit, Fortnite. Kamu’s most popular game security service, Easy Anti-Cheat, is currently used by more than 80 games and 100 million players worldwide. “Kamu’s team and tools have been key to building a vibrant Fortnite multiplayer experience that’s fair for all players,” said Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney.
Beyond a strategic business decision, the purchase reads as Epic doubling down on its already voracious stance when combatting cheating within its games. The developer has made no bones about expunging cheaters from its products, with the most notable example being its ongoing lawsuit against a 14-year-old boy who produced YouTube videos depicting him using a Fortnite cheat engine. “We take cheating seriously, and we’ll pursue all available options to make sure our games are fun, fair, and competitive for players,” an Epic Games spokesperson told Kotaku when the lawsuit was initially filed in October 2017.
Bringing Kamu in-house now allows Epic to establish a presence within Helsinki and further stabilizes Kamu as it expands its current services and develops new management systems for developers and players alike. “Battling cheating in games was just the start; today our products also help developers stay competitive by identifying player needs as quickly as they emerge,” said Allaeys.
