Counter-Strike 2: student creates 'grade A' player tracking system in Master's thesis
GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed
PC Gamer reports that Christopher B. Didriksen, a student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, dedicated his Master's thesis to rooting out cheaters in Counter-Strike 2 and created what the article calls a "grade A player tracking system," with some research findings shared on Reddit. The article says Didriksen based his thesis on a possible biometric-based solution. PC Gamer frames the work amid wider anti-cheat discussion, noting banning is an obvious response but that fresh accounts can undermine bans and mentioning kernel-level anti-cheat as an existing approach. The PC Gamer article was published 9 October 2026 and reports the student posted parts of his research on Reddit.
- What happened: PC Gamer reports that Christopher B. Didriksen, a Norwegian University of Science and Technology student, dedicated his Master's thesis to combating cheaters in Counter-Strike 2 and created a "grade A player tracking system," sharing some research findings on Reddit.
- Why it matters: PC Gamer frames the thesis as exploring biometric-based solutions because banning cheaters can be circumvented by creating fresh accounts, and the article also references kernel-level anti-cheat as part of the broader anti-cheat landscape.
- Context: PC Gamer identifies the researcher by name and affiliation, says the thesis investigated a biometric-based approach, and published the coverage on 9 October 2026.
- What next: PC Gamer reports that the student has shared research findings on Reddit but does not report any confirmed adoption, deployment, or response from Valve or other organisers regarding the tracking system.
What changed
PC Gamer reports that a master's student, Christopher B. Didriksen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, focused his thesis on methods to root out cheaters in Counter-Strike 2 and created what the article describes as a "grade A player tracking system." The article states Didriksen based part of his research on a biometric-based solution and that he posted some findings to Reddit.
Before and after
- Before: PC Gamer notes common anti-cheat responses such as banning and mentions kernel-level anti-cheat systems as existing measures.
- After: The reported thesis proposes a biometric-style tracking approach as an alternative explored in academic research; the article does not report practical deployment or integration with existing anti-cheat systems.
Limits
- PC Gamer's coverage indicates the work is academic research and that findings were shared on Reddit; the article does not confirm any adoption, implementation, or verification of the tracking system by Valve, tournament organisers, or other third parties.