Introduction
Tired of enemies recognizing your name in Eternal Return and hunting you down — or stream snipers finding you mid-match? Eternal Return has a built-in Hide Nickname function that hides your name from other players, which is exactly what streamers and privacy-minded players need.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to turn it on, where to find it, and what it does and doesn’t hide.
Direct Answer: How Do You Hide Your Name from Enemies in Eternal Return?
Open Settings and turn on the Hide Nickname option. Once enabled, your real nickname is hidden from enemy players in-game — they’ll see a generic name instead of yours. This is the game’s built-in anti-stream-snipe privacy feature, and it was specifically patched to also work correctly on dead characters and wild animals.
Step-by-Step: Turn On Hide Nickname
Step 1: Open Settings
From the Eternal Return lobby or main menu, click the Settings (gear icon) button.
Step 2: Find the Hide Nickname Option
Look through the gameplay or interface options for “Hide Nickname” (wording may vary slightly by patch — it may appear under privacy or gameplay settings).
Step 3: Toggle It On
Enable the option. Your nickname will now be hidden from enemies during matches.
Step 4: Queue and Verify
Jump into a match and check — enemies should see a generic name instead of your real nickname.
What Hide Nickname Does
- Hides your nickname from enemy players during the match — the main reason to use it.
- Works on dead characters and wild animals too (a 2021 patch specifically fixed the function to apply correctly there).
- Helps streamers avoid stream sniping — viewers can’t search your exact name to queue into your game.
What It Doesn’t Do
- Doesn’t hide you from teammates — your squad still sees your real name.
- Doesn’t hide match history or replays — those still show your real nickname.
- Doesn’t make you anonymous to the game’s systems — reports, sanctions, and the API still identify your account.
How Hide Nickname Changes Enemy Vision
When the option is on, every place an enemy would normally see your name shows something generic instead. That includes the kill feed when you knock someone down, the nameplate above your character when an enemy spots you, and the death screen of the player you killed. Instead of your carefully chosen nickname, they see a placeholder like “Test Subject” or a generic player label.
This matters more than it sounds. In a survival game like Eternal Return, information is power. If an enemy sees a well-known high-ranked player’s name on a kill feed, they know a strong player is nearby and will play differently — maybe avoiding that area or, worse, teaming up against that player. With your name hidden, enemies react to what they see, not who you are.
Step-by-Step: Hiding Your Name on a Stream Too
If you stream Eternal Return, the in-game setting is only half the battle. Here is the full setup most streamers use:
- Turn on Hide Nickname in the game settings (as described above).
- Hide the in-game chat UI — Eternal Return has a separate option for this, and a past patch fixed a bug where the chat option kept turning itself back on after system messages. Double-check it stays off.
- Add a stream delay of at least 2–3 minutes in your streaming software. This is the single most effective anti-snipe measure, because even with names hidden, a viewer watching your live gameplay can match your movements to their own match.
- Hide your lobby and queue screens with an overlay or scene switch in your streaming software, so viewers never see your account name before the match starts.
- Avoid showing match history on stream — those screens always display real nicknames.
Tips
- Combine with chat hiding. Eternal Return also has an option to hide the in-game chat UI — pairing both gives maximum privacy while streaming.
- Don’t rely on it alone against determined snipers. A sniper watching your stream can still guess you’re in their game from your character, route, and timing. Delay your stream (stream delay) for real protection.
- Re-check after big patches. Settings sometimes reset or move after major updates — verify Hide Nickname is still on.
- Use it in ranked too. The option works in all modes, and ranked is exactly where hiding your identity from targeted enemies matters most.
- Remember teammates still see you. Coordinate with your squad normally — the hiding only affects what enemies see.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking it hides your name from everyone. It targets enemies — teammates and post-game screens still show your name.
- Forgetting about match history. Anyone can look up your recent games afterward, so it’s not full anonymity.
- Not using stream delay. The name-hiding option stops casual sniping, but a live viewer can still match your gameplay to their lobby without a delay.
- Assuming it hides your name in replays. Replays are post-game content — real nicknames appear there.
- Skipping the settings check after updates. Major patches can move or reset options; a quick check keeps you protected.
FAQs
Does Eternal Return have a streamer mode?
Yes — the Hide Nickname function is the game’s streamer privacy feature, plus a separate option to hide the in-game chat UI.
Will enemies see my real name in kill feeds?
No — with Hide Nickname on, kill feeds and in-game displays show the generic name instead of your nickname.
Does it work in ranked?
Yes, the option works across game modes, including ranked matches.
Can my teammates still see my name?
Yes — hiding applies to enemies. Your teammates still see your real nickname.
Does it hide my name in the scoreboard?
The function is designed to hide your nickname from enemy players’ views, including in-game displays. Post-game scoreboards and replays show real names.
Why would I hide my name if I’m not a streamer?
Privacy. Some players don’t want enemies looking up their profile, stats, or match history mid-game to gain an edge.
Does hiding my nickname affect my stats or MMR?
No. It’s purely a display option — your stats, MMR, and rankings are completely unaffected.
Can enemies still figure out who I am?
Possibly, if they’re watching your stream live or recognize your playstyle. That’s why stream delay matters more than any name-hiding setting.
Conclusion
Hiding your name from enemies in Eternal Return takes seconds — just flip on the Hide Nickname option in Settings. It won’t make you fully anonymous, but it stops casual name-recognition, stream sniping, and mid-game profile lookups. Pair it with a stream delay and hidden chat UI for the full privacy setup. For more Eternal Return tips, check out our beginner’s survival guide and our settings optimization guide.