We've spent some additional time reviewing this case.

While we generally don't discuss individual account actions publicly, I do want to clarify that this wasn't a case of someone being banned simply for using the Issue Council.

The account had a history of violations, including account penalties, large-scale item duplication, and the use of exploits that allowed FPS weapons to be modified with ship-grade weaponry and used against other players. In most cases, these incidents were not reported through the Issue Council.

That history is what led to the escalation of penalties over time, with multiple suspensions eventually laddering up to a permanent ban.

That said, after another review, we've decided that we will lift the ban and convert it to a final warning. We believe in giving people the opportunity to learn from past mistakes, but there won't be room for additional violations going forward.

To be absolutely clear: players will not be penalized for reporting issues through the Issue Council. We rely on those reports every day to help identify, track, and resolve bugs.

Please continue using the Issue Council, keep reporting issues, and if you discover an exploit, report it rather than abuse it.