"Activision Allows Console Players to Disable Crossplay Amid Cheating Surge"

Activision has taken significant steps to address the ongoing issue of cheating in the *Call of Duty* community, specifically in *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone*. The company has responded to player complaints by announcing a series of measures aimed at enhancing the integrity of competitive multiplayer, particularly in Ranked Play modes.

Since the launch of Season 1 last year, cheating has become a major concern among dedicated *Call of Duty* fans. The introduction of Ranked Play in *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone* brought the issue into sharper focus, with many players feeling that cheating was undermining the competitive experience. Activision acknowledged that its Ricochet Anti-Cheat system did not meet expectations at the launch of Season 1, admitting that more needed to be done to safeguard the game's ecosystem.

In a recent blog post, Activision detailed its comprehensive plan to combat cheating throughout 2025. The company reported that it had already issued over 136,000 account bans in Ranked Play since its inception. With the upcoming Season 2, Activision plans to introduce enhanced client and server-side detection systems, along with a significant update to the kernel-level driver. Looking ahead to Season 3 and beyond, the company teased "a multitude of new tech," including a novel system designed to authenticate legitimate players and target cheaters more effectively. However, to avoid tipping off cheat developers, Activision refrained from providing specifics on these upcoming technologies.

In a more immediate response, starting with Season 2, Activision will allow console players in *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone* Ranked Play to disable crossplay. This move comes in recognition that cheating is more prevalent on PC, and many console players have historically opted out of crossplay in standard Multiplayer to avoid such issues. By extending this option to Ranked Play, Activision aims to provide console players with a fairer competitive environment.

"We'll be monitoring closely and will consider further changes to prioritize the integrity of the ecosystem, and we’ll have more details to share as we get closer to the launch of this feature," Activision stated, indicating a proactive approach to ongoing improvements.

Despite these efforts, skepticism persists among *Call of Duty* fans, a common reaction to anti-cheat updates. Cheating has been a persistent issue for Activision, particularly since the explosive popularity of the free-to-play *Warzone* in 2020. The company has invested heavily in anti-cheat technology and legal action against cheat developers, with several high-profile legal victories in recent times.

Ahead of *Black Ops 6*'s release, Activision set an ambitious goal to remove cheaters from the game within an hour of their first match. The game launched with an updated kernel-level driver from Ricochet, alongside new machine-learning systems focused on rapid detection and analysis of gameplay to counter aim bots specifically.

"The people behind cheats are organized, illegal groups that pick apart every piece of data within our games to look for some way to make cheating possible," Activision explained. "These bad guys are not just some script kiddies poking around with code they found online. They are a collective who profit from exploiting the hard work of game developers across the industry."

Activision emphasized the ongoing battle against cheat developers, noting that every cheating attempt leaves a trail that the company diligently follows to identify and remove the culprits from the game.