As online multiplayer gaming has evolved, so has the menace of cheating. Whether it’s exploiting a bug or using cheat software, cheaters disrupt the level playing field, ruining the enjoyment for everyone else. Activision has long been dedicated to keeping its Call of Duty lobbies cheat-free, and with their latest update, they’ve taken a notable stride forward in their efforts.
In a move that will bring satisfaction to all honest players, Activision announced that its proprietary Ricochet anti-cheat system will now show real-time notifications in CoD lobbies when a cheater has been booted from the game. This upgrade is part of the launch of the fifth season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0.
The notifications, set to be a part of the gameplay, add an element of public shame to being kicked for cheating. Furthermore, they serve as a real-time reminder that the system is constantly vigilant, adding to the deterrent against cheating.
RICOCHET has entered the chat 🛡️
Starting in Season 05, the kill feed will notify lobbies when #TeamRICOCHET and it's systems have removed a problem player from the game.
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 2, 2023
This improvement has been in the making, with Activision launching the Ricochet anti-cheat system in 2021. Equipped with a kernel-level driver, Ricochet was specially designed to catch PC cheaters, a growing issue in the CoD franchise. But the anti-cheat system isn’t solely reactive. It also implements proactive measures, such as making legitimate players invisible to cheaters and automatically enabling god mode to combat cheaters.
Activision has also cracked down on third-party hardware cheating devices like XIM, Cronus Zen, and ReaSnow S1. These devices, which offer aim assist and keyboard-mouse movement benefits, are increasingly popular for their supposed undetectability. However, Activision’s relentless efforts ensure they are not as undetectable as they would like.
