Hello, dear developers of DayZ!

I recently developed server analytics, available on https://ts4ta.com, and discovered some surprising results. According to Steam, the current online player count is about 55,000. However, analyzing the server data reveals entirely different numbers:

• 1,014,605 bots.
• 303,213 artificially inflated players (not bots).
• 224,688 players waiting in server queues.

In total, this adds up to over 1.5 million "players", which is far beyond the official statistics shown on Steam.

Here are a few questions:

1. How is it possible that the number of "players" visible in the launcher and on servers exceeds the official Steam data so drastically?
2. What is your stance on the current issue of player count inflation on community servers? Based on my analysis, over 5,000 servers are manipulating their numbers, with a significant portion of players ending up on such servers.
3. How are players expected to find quality servers to play on when:
   • Official servers are often plagued by cheaters and performance issues?
   • Community servers heavily inflate their player counts?
4. Why not implement a filtering and verification system in the launcher to exclude servers that engage in these practices? It seems like a straightforward step that could greatly improve the quality of the game and user experience.

I'm not a professional programmer, but I managed to create an analytics prototype in just a few evenings, which uncovered this massive issue. While my calculations might not be perfect (the real player count might be even higher when adjusted for inflation), it’s clear that the problem with artificial inflation is critical. Players deserve a better approach to server management.

Can you comment on this situation and share any plans to improve the launcher and combat the manipulation of player counts?

Thank you in advance for your response!