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Facepunch Offers One-Time Second Chance to Rust Banned Players After 8 Months

In a surprising move that has stirred up strong reactions across the Rust community, Facepunch Studios has announced a new policy granting one-time second chances to previously banned players—provided their bans are over eight months old and they haven’t reoffended since.

The announcement came on June 25, 2025, and represents a significant shift in how Rust handles its ban system. Previously, bans were considered permanent and final, with no possibility of return. Now, under specific conditions, banned users may rejoin the game—though not without cost.


What the Policy Actually Says

According to Facepunch:

“If you were banned over 8 months ago, and you haven’t reoffended, you can return, by purchasing Rust on a new account.”

This new rule doesn’t mean players are being unbanned. Instead, it means banned players may buy the game again on a new Steam account, assuming they meet the strict eligibility criteria.


Who Qualifies for a Second Chance?

The second-chance policy only applies if all of the following conditions are met:

  • The ban is over 8 months old.
  • The player has not reoffended or attempted to evade the original ban.
  • The player was not community banned, nor banned for reasons unrelated to cheating (e.g., racism, doxxing, hardware bans).

In other words, this isn’t an invitation to all previously banned players—it’s a narrow window for first-time offenders who’ve stayed away and kept clean.


What Doesn’t Change

  • Bans are not being lifted: Your original ban remains visible and in effect.
  • There’s no clean slate: VAC and game bans will still show on your Steam profile.
  • Repeat offenders are still permanently banned: If you’ve been caught cheating multiple times, this policy does not apply.

Zero Tolerance Going Forward

Facepunch also made it clear that this is a one-time opportunity. Any player who cheats again, even under a new account, will be banned permanently with no further chance for return.

The studio emphasized that this move is about redemption—not forgiveness. It’s a calculated decision to give players who made a mistake the chance to return, while still upholding a strong anti-cheat stance.


Community Reactions: Divided Opinions

The reaction online has been a mix of surprise, support, and backlash. On platforms like Reddit and Twitter, some players are welcoming the idea of forgiveness, while others worry it may encourage cheaters to return.

Critics argue that letting any banned player back into the game could risk Rust’s fragile balance and undermine its long-term integrity. Supporters, however, believe people can change—and that punishing someone forever for a single offense may be too harsh.

Others voiced concern about the pay-to-return nature of the policy, arguing that cheaters are essentially being allowed to “buy their way back” in.


A Strategic Redemption

Despite the heated discussion, Facepunch’s move appears to be carefully designed to minimize abuse. By requiring the purchase of a new copy of Rust and limiting eligibility to those with older bans and clean records since, the system ensures that only a small subset of former players qualify.

It also means players must be willing to start fresh—without any prior progress, inventory, or server relationships—further discouraging those who might return just to cause more trouble.


Final Thoughts

This policy marks a new chapter for Rust’s moderation system—one that offers redemption for some but stands firm against repeat abuse. Time will tell how it affects the community long-term, but it’s clear Facepunch is trying something bold: balancing forgiveness with consequences.

If you’re a banned player hoping to come back, make sure you read the fine print. One misstep, and your second chance could be your last.