Activision’s Team RICOCHET is escalating its war on cheaters by introducing a new, innovative anti-cheat measure in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone. This is the next step in the developer’s years-long battle against in-game exploiters and hackers.
The RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team, which is built specifically to maintain fair play in Call of Duty, has announced a series of advanced tactics to identify and punish cheaters, including a combination of machine learning, client- and server-side systems, and more creative measures like the newly introduced feature named Splat.
Splat, a particularly intriguing addition to the anti-cheat arsenal, is designed to target cheaters in a novel and somewhat amusing manner. In Warzone, if a player is identified as a cheater before deploying from the airplane, the game’s anti-cheat software will disable the cheater’s parachute, resulting in a literal crash landing. For those cheaters who manage to evade initial detection and deploy their parachute, Splat has another trick up its sleeve. It can adjust their velocity during the game, transforming a simple action like a bunny hop into a fatal plummet from a great height. This unique approach not only punishes cheaters but also serves as a deterrent for potential exploiters.
In addition to Splat, the anti-cheat system employs machine learning to enhance the efficiency of detecting and dealing with cheaters. This technology enables the review of a larger volume of replay clips for suspicious behavior, such as wall hacks or other forms of cheating. While a human member of the RICOCHET team can review approximately 700 replays a day, a single PC running the machine learning model can assess up to 1,000 clips per day, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of cheat detection.
The implementation of these measures is part of Activision’s continuous effort to maintain a fair and enjoyable gaming environment for its massive player base. The company has recently banned over 80,000 accounts across Warzone and Modern Warfare II for cheating, and these players are prohibited from accessing Modern Warfare III. This action is part of Activision’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its games and providing a positive experience for all players.
The introduction of these anti-cheat measures comes at a crucial time, as Modern Warfare III launches with heightened expectations. Given the widespread popularity of the franchise, maintaining a level playing field is essential to preserve the game’s reputation and player satisfaction, even though most are complaining about its relative lack of content, especially in the single-player campaign. The innovative use of machine learning and creative tactics like Splat represents a significant advancement in the fight against in-game cheating. Although if we’re being honest, there won’t be many players to keep if Activision doesn’t up its A game.
While some players have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these new measures, others have praised the game’s conglomerate of developers for taking a proactive approach.
The RICOCHET team’s efforts highlight the importance of ongoing vigilance and adaptation in the battle against Call of Duty cheaters. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, so too must the strategies employed to ensure fair play and a positive gaming experience for all participants.
With the implementation of these advanced anti-cheat measures, Activision is setting a new standard in the industry and sending a clear message to cheaters that their actions will not be tolerated.
