The cheating software was primarily marketed towards Indonesian players, but also reached the rest of Southeast Asia.
A major Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) cheating network has been dismantled through a joint effort by developer MOONTON Games, Central Java Regional Police, and external counsel SKC Law. In a press release circulated on Wednesday (8 April), MOONTON announced that they targeted the the operators behind ‘Senpai Mod’ and its upstream software supplier ‘NUI Mod’ in order to disrupt the “distribution and production layers of cheat software used to compromise competitive gameplay.”
While the cheating software was primarily marketed to MLBB players in Indonesia, transaction records also suggest that its reach reportedly extended across Southeast Asia, and potentially the rest of the world.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Release date: 14 July, 2016
Developer: MOONTON Games
Platforms: iOS, Android
What did the MLBB cheating software do?
MOONTON's investigation revealed that Senpai Mod operated as both a distributor and reseller of cheat software primarily designed for ranked gameplay in MLBB.
The cheating software gave users unfair advantages such as map hacks, drone-style vision, and other exploitative functions. Such cheats severely undermined match integrity and gameplay experience for non-cheat users in ranked gameplay, the most competitive game mode available to MLBB players.
How was the MLBB cheating software discovered?
MOONTON began its investigation into the cheating software in 2023 after reports from the MLBB player community alerted the developer to suspicious cheating activity affecting ranked matches.
Acting on these reports, MOONTON began working with the Central Java Regional Police and SKC Law on technical monitoring and intelligence collection in September 2023 to trace the networks responsible for developing and distributing the cheat software.
What actions were taken against the cheating software's operators and users?
As a result of the enforcement action, the Senpai Mod and its supplier NUI Mod have been formally ordered to immediately cease all development, sale, and distribution of the cheating software. In addition, all websites and social media accounts related to the cheating software have been shut down.
Several thousand MLBB accounts have also been penalised for the use of Senpai Mod-related cheats, though MOONTON did not detail the extent of these penalties.
MOONTON said that the enforcement action marked “a rare disruption across both the distribution and production layers of cheat software”, adding that it demonstrates the importance of industry collaboration with law enforcement authorities in protecting the integrity of online gaming ecosystems. The developer also expressed its appreciation for the Central Java Regional Police for their cooperation in the case.
"[MOONTON] remains committed to maintaining a safe and fair competitive environment for players worldwide. The company will continue strengthening both its technical anti-cheat systems and legal enforcement efforts to combat misconduct that threatens the integrity of online competition," said MOONTON.
"Fair play is non-negotiable—and MOONTON Games will continue to defend it together with players and law enforcement authorities."
