The Pokemon Company has confirmed that players with illegal save data have been barred from going online, and it is reported that nearly 6,000 Pokémon Sun and Moon players have been banned from using the game's main online feature - Global Link.
In an announcement on the Japanese Global Link page, about 5,954 players have been caught cheating - by utilizing modifications, hacks and other means to alter items and trainers info, and also by using illegal Pokémon in trades or online battles.
It's unclear which particular cheats are getting players in trouble with The Pokémon Company, however - and whether those who simply received hacked Pokémon unwittingly are now facing the consequences too.
So far, players haven't reported getting banned for using hacked Pokémon in part because hacked Pokémon are extremely widespread. While players aren't getting banned for using hacked Pokémon, some have noticed that the 'hack checks' used to keep illegal Pokémon from online battles and trading were a bit more stringent, even occasionally banning perfectly legal Pokémon from play.
It seems that the hack checks are having problems with Pokémon from the Virtual Console versions of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, as well as Pokémon with multiple forms.
It's unclear if the Pokémon Company's efforts to crack down on cheating will actually have an impact. Hacked Pokémon are very common online and are even seen in competitive play. We'll have to see whether this actually curbs cheating, or if it's just a temporarily deterrent.
Players who got booted from the Global Link have provided clarification to Polygon. Part of the penalty for the cheating includes a permanent ban from participating in competitions, rating battles and in global missions. They will also go to receive an error code when attempting to connect to the internet to use these features. Global Link, according to The Pokemon Company, stated that it plans to keep and eye out and ban more cheaters in the future.
During the launch of Pokemon X and Y back in the year of 2013, more than 1,500 players were banned - for using hacked Pokemon, from entering in an online tournament. It's a reminder that The Pokémon Company does not go easy on those who try to play Sun, Moon and other Pokémon games other than how they were intended
