Renown Banning Policy

Introduction

At Renown, we strive to keep Counter-Strike competitive, fun, and inclusive for everyone. We understand that gaming can get intense, and we don’t expect you to be robots. Friendly banter, occasional swearing, and heated moments are all part of the game. However, there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. This guide outlines what behaviors are not acceptable and the penalties that come with them.

We believe that a great gaming experience goes beyond individual skill – it’s about building a community where everyone feels welcome. By following these guidelines, you’re contributing to a safe, respectful, and competitive environment that benefits us all.

How our System Works

At Renown, we combine machine learning and human moderation to ensure rules are enforced fairly and accurately:

Text and Voice Monitoring: After each match, chat and voice data are analyzed by GGWP, our partner specializing in machine learning detection of patterns in toxicity and offensive behavior. GGWP doesn’t just look for specific words – it evaluates the context of conversations, how players respond to what’s said, and patterns of behavior. It also considers factors like match score, player stats, and whether players are friends or strangers, ensuring that flagged cases reflect the true nature of the interaction.
Moderator Review: Human moderators review all flagged cases to ensure that penalties are fair, always considering the broader gameplay context and the relationships between players. We know competitive matches can get heated, so isolated comments are always viewed in the context of the broader game and relationships between players.
Community Reporting: Your reports play a key role in helping us act quickly. If your report leads to a penalty, you’ll gain a credibility boost, making your future reports more impactful. Repeated false reports, however, may lower your credibility (or in extreme cases in losing your reporting privilege) – so please report responsibly.

By blending automation with human oversight, we aim to keep Renown a safe, fair, and competitive space for everyone.

How to Report

If you witness or experience inappropriate behavior, you can report it through the post-match summary screen:

Go to the Match Page after the game.
Select the player you want to report.
Choose the type of offense (e.g. toxicity).

After submitting a report, it will be carefully reviewed, and if your report leads to a penalty, you’ll be notified in your notification center. Keep in mind that submitting false reports may affect your credibility, so please use the system responsibly.

By reporting violations, you help make Renown a better, fairer community.

How to Appeal

If you believe a penalty lasting 3 days or more was applied unfairly, you can submit an appeal. Simply visit our Support Page, provide your account details, and explain why you think the penalty is unjust. Our moderation team will review your case and respond as quickly as possible.

Please note that automated warnings and short bans (less than 3 days) are not eligible for appeal, and decisions made during the appeal process are final.

We encourage you to appeal only when you genuinely believe a mistake has been made. Repeated false reports may lower your credibility, and in extreme cases, could result in losing your reporting privileges.

Once your appeal is reviewed, the decision will be final.

Offenses and Penalties

This section offers a general overview of unacceptable behavior and the penalties associated with them. While not an exhaustive list, it serves as a guide to help you understand where we draw the line. Every situation is reviewed with context in mind to ensure fairness.

Friendly banter is okay: We understand that some trash talk is part of competitive gaming. Only when it becomes abusive or crosses the line into harassment will it result in penalties.
Penalties escalate with repeated offenses: Even minor offenses can lead to more severe penalties if repeated.
Respect makes the game better: The rules are here to ensure everyone has a fair and enjoyable experience. Respect your fellow players, and the game will be better for everyone.

Category	Level	Examples	Penalty
Toxicity	Minor	– Frequent passive-aggressive remarks (e.g., sarcastic or dismissive comments that affect team morale). – Consistently harsh critiques or negative feedback without constructive advice. – Negative attitude that disrupts gameplay (e.g., frequently giving up mid-game, refusing to contribute, or deliberately playing poorly after a few losses).	⚠️ Warning Escalates to 3-day ban if repeated within a match or across games.
	Moderate	– Direct insults or personal attacks towards other players. – Use of derogatory language or negative stereotypes related to personal attributes (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity). – Repeated belittling or targeted negative comments aimed at specific teammates across the game.	⏳ 5-day ban Escalates to 10-day ban if persistent or targeted at the same player across the game.
	Severe	– Threats of physical harm or encouraging self-harm. – Hate speech targeting race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. – Persistent harassment or stalking behavior over multiple games.	🚫 14-day ban Escalates to 30-day ban or permanent ban for repeated or extreme cases.
Griefing / Trolling	Minor	– Isolated incidents of hindering teammates (e.g., team flashing or blocking paths). – Repeatedly ignoring team strategies or refusing to communicate.	⚠️ Warning Escalates to 3-day ban if repeated within a match or across games.
	Moderate	– Intentionally disclosing teammate locations to the enemy. – Deliberately causing losses (e.g., intentionally dying, teamkilling, refusing to play objectives, etc).	⏳ 5-day ban Escalates to 10-day ban if repeated within a match or across games.
	Severe	– Ongoing disruptive actions across multiple games (e.g., consistent team killing, sabotage). – Persistent harassment or sabotage aimed at specific players over several matches.	🚫 14-day ban Escalates to 30-day or permanent ban depending on severity and context.
Cheating	Moderate	– Gaining strategic advantages by watching opponents' live streams in real-time ('Streamsniping').	🚫 6-month ban Escalates to 3-year ban for multiple occurrences.
Cheating	Severe	– Using third-party software or modifications to gain an unfair advantage (e.g., wallhacks, aimbots). – Running automated scripts or macros for actions beyond normal gameplay limits (e.g., rapid-fire). – Bypassing anti-cheat systems or tampering with game files to avoid detection. – Exploiting game bugs or glitches for unfair benefits (e.g., accessing restricted areas, disabling visuals). – Evading bans by creating new accounts or using software.	🚫 3-year ban Escalates to permanent ban for second offense (instantly for 'Ban Evading').
Inappropriate Content	Minor	– Offensive usernames or avatars (racist, explicit).	⚠️ Warning and forced change Escalates to 3-day ban for refusal to comply.
Inappropriate Content	Severe	– Sharing explicit or offensive content in chat or gameplay.	🚫 7-day ban Escalates to 30-day or permanent ban for severe or repeated incidents.
Match Participation	Minor	– Failing to accept a match when queued.	⏳ 30 seconds cooldown
	Moderate	– Accepting a match but failing to join within the allowed time.	⏳ 30-minute ban Escalates to 2h ban for the second offense and 12h ban for the third. Resets on a 14d rolling period.
	Severe	– Leaving a game in progress without rejoining within a 5-minute window.	⏳ 2-hour ban Escalates to 12h ban for the second offense and 3d ban for the third. Resets on a 14d rolling period.
Doxxing	Severe	– Sharing another player’s personal information without consent, including real names, addresses, or other identifying details.	🚫 Permanent ban
Account Misuse	Severe	– Creating secondary accounts for easier matches ('Smurfing'). – Creating new accounts to bypass previous bans (excluding cheating bans which is an instant permanent ban).	🚫 6-month ban Escalates to permanent ban for repeated offenses.
False Reporting	Minor	– Submitting false reports to harass or mislead.	⚠️ Warning Escalates to 24h ban or 3d ban for repeated offenses. May also result in the removal of reporting privileges.