Activision Will Let Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Ranked Console Players Disable Crossplay With PC as Cheating Complaints Ramp Up

Activision addresses Call of Duty cheating concerns, promising improved anti-cheat measures and crossplay options.

The Call of Duty community's frustration over rampant cheating in Black Ops 6 and Warzone's Ranked Play has prompted Activision to take action. Following criticism for insufficient initial anti-cheat measures in Season 1, Activision's Team Ricochet has outlined a multi-pronged approach for 2025.

Over 136,000 Ranked Play accounts have already been banned since the mode's launch. Season 2 will introduce enhanced client-side and server-side detection systems, alongside a significant kernel-level driver update. Further advancements, including a novel player authentication system designed to identify and target cheaters, are planned for Season 3 and beyond. Details remain undisclosed to prevent cheat developers from exploiting the new technology.

A key immediate change for Season 2 is the introduction of crossplay disabling for console players in Ranked Play. This addresses the prevalent belief that PC players constitute the majority of cheaters, a concern that has led console players to routinely disable crossplay in standard multiplayer modes.

Activision acknowledges the skepticism surrounding anti-cheat updates but emphasizes its ongoing commitment. The company highlights its substantial investment in anti-cheat technology and legal action against cheat developers, citing several recent successful prosecutions. Previous statements emphasized a goal of banning cheaters within an hour of their first match, leveraging updated kernel-level drivers and machine learning to detect and analyze suspicious gameplay patterns. Activision characterizes cheat developers as organized, profit-driven groups, constantly seeking vulnerabilities, but also notes that their actions inevitably leave traceable evidence.