Activision announced a major escalation in its multi-front campaign against cheating in Call of Duty, including filing lawsuits, upgrading its RICOCHET kernel-level driver, and targeting hardware exploits in a bid to restore fair play and deter persistent hackers.
Activision has filed suit against the creators and resellers of the infamous GameHook and Lergware hacks, accusing them of monetizing cheats that allow users to boot opponents and guarantee perfect aim in violation of the franchise’s terms of service.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and punitive penalties that could total millions of dollars, underscoring Activision’s commitment to pursue cheaters through the courts when bans prove insufficient.
Since launching RICOCHET’s kernel-level driver on PC, Activision has enhanced the system to detect and ban sophisticated cheats in real time. The recent Season 03 Reloaded update introduced an expanded Death Widget UI in Warzone and Black Ops 6, logging whether eliminations involved heartbeat sensors, proximity alarms, or body-shield tactics to clarify legitimate kills versus cheat-generated deaths.
In parallel, Activision’s anti-cheat division has sent cease-and-desist notices to manufacturers of Cronus and similar devices that manipulate controller inputs, warning users of permanent bans and collaborating with law enforcement to dismantle illicit distribution networks.
Moreover, data from the Ricochet team reveals that over 60 percent of reported cheaters are flagged on console despite nearly all confirmed cheaters operating on PC. Activision is refining its report-validation process and appeal system to reduce false accusations and prevent innocent players from being penalized.