"New Console-Only Crossplay Option Penalizes Non-Cheating PC Players in Call of Duty"

With the launch of Season 3 this week, *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* and *Warzone* are set to undergo a significant update that has raised concerns among the PC gaming community, particularly regarding potential impacts on matchmaking queue times.

Activision released the Season 3 patch notes, confirming a major shift in the Multiplayer settings. The update separates Multiplayer Ranked Play and Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play, and introduces a new Multiplayer-only setting for Quickplay, Featured, and Party Games matches. This change comes with three distinct crossplay options for each setting, effective from April 4:

• On: Enables matchmaking with all gaming platforms when playing in the selected playlists.
• On (Consoles Only): Enables matchmaking only with other consoles when playing in selected playlists.
• Off: Restricts matchmaking to your current gaming platform only in selected playlists.

Activision has cautioned that selecting "On (Consoles Only)" or "Off" may lead to longer matchmaking queue times, with "Off" being particularly detrimental.

The introduction of a console-only crossplay option in regular Multiplayer has sparked worry among PC players. The concern stems from the prevalent issue of cheating in *Call of Duty*, which is more common on PC. Activision has acknowledged this, noting that unfair deaths attributed to console players are more likely due to 'intel advantage' rather than cheating. Consequently, some console players disable crossplay to avoid PC cheaters, which could now further impact PC matchmaking times.

Reactions from the PC community have been vocal. Redditor exjr_ expressed understanding but concern over the potential long-term effects on queue times, hinting at possibly switching to a console for a better experience. Similarly, X / Twitter user @GKeepnclassy lamented the change as detrimental to non-cheating PC players, while @CBBMack highlighted the existing struggles with matchmaking due to skill-based matchmaking (SBMM), predicting further difficulties.

Some PC players argue that instead of segregating platforms, Activision should enhance its anti-cheat measures. Redditor MailConsistent1344 suggested focusing on anti-cheat improvements rather than isolating PC players. Activision has indeed been investing heavily in combating cheating, with recent successes like the shutdown of prominent cheat provider Phantom Overlay and several others ahead of the anticipated return of Verdansk to *Warzone*. However, the battle against cheating remains challenging, and Activision promises improved anti-cheat technology with Season 3.

Despite these changes, many within the *Call of Duty* community, especially on consoles, may remain unaware of these new settings. The majority of casual players typically do not delve into patch notes or adjust settings, preferring to jump straight into unranked Multiplayer for casual fun. This was echoed by *Call of Duty* YouTuber TheXclusiveAce, who pointed out that the majority of players will continue with the default crossplay settings, potentially mitigating the impact on PC matchmaking pools.

As Season 3 approaches for *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone*, the community will be watching closely to see how these updates affect gameplay and matchmaking, and whether Activision's ongoing efforts to combat cheating will yield noticeable improvements.