The following FAQ should answer some of your questions about Halo: The Master Chief Collection bans. We will update this FAQ as necessary.
I received an in-game message saying I have been banned. Why?
If you are checking this page because of an in-game message, it is likely that you have been banned for either quitting repetitively, violating the terms of use, attempted Playlist Ranking manipulation, have been found to be conducting network manipulation, and/or committing a code of conduct violation. It is also possible, in the case of an especially egregious violation, that your Xbox One system itself is now banned from Matchmaking. The duration of this ban is based on the type, frequency or nature of the committed violation. In most cases, Custom Games will still be available. In extreme cases, they will not.
How can I tell how long I was banned for?
Ban duration will be shown in the message that appears as the ban hammer strikes. First offences are generally low and last only a few minutes, but will increase in duration incrementally with each subsequent ban.
If you’ve quit out of a game either intentionally or unintentionally, you will receive a quit ban if you are within the first 50% of players to quit from your team.
Current ban ladder for MCC:
The “First 50%” means that if you are in a 4v4, that the first 2 players to quit on your team will receive a quit ban. However, after at least 50% quit, you are free to quit without a ban. There is a caveat where if a player doesn’t connect to the server and does not make it into the game, the automated quit ban service will not see them as ever being a part of the game. In that situation, the first 2 players to manually quit on that team will receive the ban.
Moral of the story: don’t quit, but if half of your team has then you won’t be punished for doing so.
What types of actions can result in a ban?
Types of violation include, but are not limited to, the following example actions:
Why was I banned for quitting one match? *
The ban system observes if you are quitting out of matchmaking and will enforce a matchmaking ban should you choose to quit out of matches. The more matches you quit, the more severe the bans become as it takes more than a single offence to earn a significant matchmaking ban. These extended bans will be enforced from multiple quits placing the lengthier bans being placed on your account.
Quit Ban Changes as of 13/12/2018
Why was I banned for winning a match / quitting one match / quitting a custom game? *
You weren't. The ban system runs at least 1 game behind so your ban will have been placed for a previous offence. After completing your next event, whether it is a matchmaking game, custom game, forge session, spectating a friend or viewing theatre, the system will then show you a message telling you that you have been banned.
I shouldn't be banned. My brother/sister/cousin/dad/mom/friend must've logged on with my account and done bad things. Will you please reverse my ban?
If this is indeed the case, we do understand your frustration. However, it is your sole responsibility to keep your account information secure and not share it with others who would abuse it. We have no way of detecting who is playing with your account, and if your gamertag is caught making naughty, you will be banned. Those are the rules.
I didn't do anything wrong, and you can't prove it. Will you please reverse my ban?
Our automated system builds up a digital case prior to any ban being enacted. Bans for quitting will not be reversed.
Will posting in this thread guarantee my ban will be lifted and that someone will respond personally to every post?
Unfortunately, no. We simply don't have enough eyes, ears and typing hands to respond to every single post. However, the community will help keep you honest. Please, just keep it clean.
The purpose of this thread is to keep all questions pertaining to bans in one place. Without a megathread for such questions, the rest of the forum will almost certainly turn into a cavalcade of ban questions. If you were banned and think you have a case, this is the ONLY thread you should post in.
If other moderators see posts pertaining to bans in other threads, a kind-hearted mod will re-direct you to this thread. If any users are caught habitually spamming ban threads in other threads, we will consider that a violation of the forum Terms of Use.
You will risk being banned here as well. We don't want to have to ban anyone, but we do want an open, honest and positive place to post about all things Halo, so a thread like this is necessary.
Thanks in advance!
Updated: 2/6/2021 - stckrboy
I received an in-game message saying I have been banned. Why?
If you are checking this page because of an in-game message, it is likely that you have been banned for either quitting repetitively, violating the terms of use, attempted Playlist Ranking manipulation, have been found to be conducting network manipulation, and/or committing a code of conduct violation. It is also possible, in the case of an especially egregious violation, that your Xbox One system itself is now banned from Matchmaking. The duration of this ban is based on the type, frequency or nature of the committed violation. In most cases, Custom Games will still be available. In extreme cases, they will not.
How can I tell how long I was banned for?
Ban duration will be shown in the message that appears as the ban hammer strikes. First offences are generally low and last only a few minutes, but will increase in duration incrementally with each subsequent ban.
If you’ve quit out of a game either intentionally or unintentionally, you will receive a quit ban if you are within the first 50% of players to quit from your team.
Current ban ladder for MCC:
- First offence: 1 minute ban
- Second offense: 3 minute ban
- Third offense: 5 minute ban
- Fourth offense: 10 minute ban
- Additional offences: 10 minutes
The “First 50%” means that if you are in a 4v4, that the first 2 players to quit on your team will receive a quit ban. However, after at least 50% quit, you are free to quit without a ban. There is a caveat where if a player doesn’t connect to the server and does not make it into the game, the automated quit ban service will not see them as ever being a part of the game. In that situation, the first 2 players to manually quit on that team will receive the ban.
Moral of the story: don’t quit, but if half of your team has then you won’t be punished for doing so.
What types of actions can result in a ban?
Types of violation include, but are not limited to, the following example actions:
- Modifying your Xbox One hardware or game software and services in any way.
- Idling through games, habitual quitting, suiciding, betraying, dodging matches or any other type of unsociable and unsportsmanlike behavior.
- Impersonating a 343 Industries or Microsoft employee on Xbox LIVE with intent to defraud or cause harm to other players.
Why was I banned for quitting one match? *
The ban system observes if you are quitting out of matchmaking and will enforce a matchmaking ban should you choose to quit out of matches. The more matches you quit, the more severe the bans become as it takes more than a single offence to earn a significant matchmaking ban. These extended bans will be enforced from multiple quits placing the lengthier bans being placed on your account.
Quit Ban Changes as of 13/12/2018
- Users are no longer banned for quitting in Lone Wolves or Infection
- Quitters will still receive losses and incur the associated rank penalty in Lone Wolves
- Users are no longer banned for quitting 1v1s
- Quitting from the first half of a team incurs bans.
- Quitting from the second half of a team does not. This is true for all player counts (2v2, 4v4, 8v8)
Why was I banned for winning a match / quitting one match / quitting a custom game? *
You weren't. The ban system runs at least 1 game behind so your ban will have been placed for a previous offence. After completing your next event, whether it is a matchmaking game, custom game, forge session, spectating a friend or viewing theatre, the system will then show you a message telling you that you have been banned.
I shouldn't be banned. My brother/sister/cousin/dad/mom/friend must've logged on with my account and done bad things. Will you please reverse my ban?
If this is indeed the case, we do understand your frustration. However, it is your sole responsibility to keep your account information secure and not share it with others who would abuse it. We have no way of detecting who is playing with your account, and if your gamertag is caught making naughty, you will be banned. Those are the rules.
I didn't do anything wrong, and you can't prove it. Will you please reverse my ban?
Our automated system builds up a digital case prior to any ban being enacted. Bans for quitting will not be reversed.
Will posting in this thread guarantee my ban will be lifted and that someone will respond personally to every post?
Unfortunately, no. We simply don't have enough eyes, ears and typing hands to respond to every single post. However, the community will help keep you honest. Please, just keep it clean.
The purpose of this thread is to keep all questions pertaining to bans in one place. Without a megathread for such questions, the rest of the forum will almost certainly turn into a cavalcade of ban questions. If you were banned and think you have a case, this is the ONLY thread you should post in.
If other moderators see posts pertaining to bans in other threads, a kind-hearted mod will re-direct you to this thread. If any users are caught habitually spamming ban threads in other threads, we will consider that a violation of the forum Terms of Use.
You will risk being banned here as well. We don't want to have to ban anyone, but we do want an open, honest and positive place to post about all things Halo, so a thread like this is necessary.
Thanks in advance!
Updated: 2/6/2021 - stckrboy
