Call of Duty: Console Players Can Disable Crossplay With PC to Combat Cheating

Activision Tackles Call of Duty Cheating with New Anti-Cheat Measures and Crossplay Options

Activision has responded to widespread player concerns regarding cheating in Call of Duty's Black Ops 6 and Warzone, announcing significant updates to its anti-cheat strategy and offering console players in Ranked Play the option to disable crossplay with PC players.

The surge in cheating reports, particularly following the introduction of Ranked Play in Season 1 of Black Ops 6 and Warzone, has sparked considerable outrage within the community. Activision previously acknowledged shortcomings in its initial Ricochet Anti-Cheat implementation, admitting that it fell short of expectations, especially in Ranked Play.

A recent blog post details Activision's 2025 anti-cheat roadmap. Key highlights include over 136,000 account bans issued for Ranked Play violations since its launch. Season 2 will introduce enhanced client-side and server-side detection systems, along with a substantial kernel-level driver update. Further advancements are promised for Season 3 and beyond, including a novel player authentication system designed to identify and target cheaters more effectively. Specific details on this new system are being withheld to prevent cheat developers from exploiting the technology.

A significant immediate change for console players is the upcoming ability to disable crossplay in Ranked Play for both Black Ops 6 and Warzone. This addresses a long-standing concern, as PC players are widely considered to be more prone to cheating. Console players have routinely disabled crossplay in standard Multiplayer; this update extends that option to Ranked Play. Activision will closely monitor the impact of this change and consider further adjustments to maintain game integrity.

While Activision's anti-cheat efforts are often met with skepticism, the company has invested heavily in Ricochet, pursuing legal action against cheat developers and achieving notable successes. Prior to Black Ops 6's launch, Activision aimed for sub-one-hour detection and removal of cheaters from matches, utilizing an updated kernel-level driver and machine-learning systems to identify and ban aimbots swiftly. The company acknowledges the sophisticated nature of cheat developers, describing them as organized groups actively seeking vulnerabilities within the game's code. However, Activision remains confident in its ability to detect and remove cheaters through continuous monitoring and analysis of player behavior.