Cheaters in Black Ops 6 Face Bans from Ranked Play, But Not Quickly Enough

What You Need to Know

Ricochet is the trusty anticheat system guarding Call of Duty’s fortress, safeguarding Black Ops 6 and the seamlessly integrated Warzone. Recently, the team behind this digital shield shared a development update: they’ve expelled 19,000 cheaters from ranked play and continue to kick off regular purges to maintain leaderboard integrity. Despite these efforts, many in the community feel it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Right now, it’s nearly impossible to dive into ranked matches or Warzone without brushing shoulders with a cheater, a frustration felt keenly by console players dealing with mandatory PC crossplay for ranked play.

Seeing a need to vent, let me express this clearly: if you’re cheating in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it’s not anger I feel—it’s disappointment. It’s a bit disheartening, really, that some folks would shell out cash for hacks to fake their way up in a competitive video game, rather than just embracing the grind like the rest of us.

Okay, I’m done with the soapbox moment. Ricochet’s team, the minds behind Call of Duty’s anticheat framework, have rolled out an update about the current situation just a week after Black Ops 6’s ranked mode went live.

At first glance, this update sounds promising.

We all saw this coming; anyone who’s logged countless hours in Call of Duty knew what would happen. The ranked mode’s launch was practically a beacon for cheaters to swarm in.

The ban of 19,000 accounts seems substantial, but compared to the entire player pool, it’s a mere splash in a vast ocean. These actions are appreciated; however, it feels like patching a leaky bucket with tissue paper. I’m no expert developer, but Ricochet was supposed to prevent such a scenario.

That said, I appreciate their efforts to uphold the integrity of the leaderboards. Within just a day, the top 250 was peppered with suspicious individuals, leading many to suspect foul play.

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We just want to play the game properly, folks. Quit ruining the excitement. (Image credit: Activision)

Console players, in particular, have valid reasons for their frustrations. Black Ops 6’s ranked matches require crossplay with PC—territory where most cheaters lurk. Not to imply consoles are utterly cheat-free, but the instances are notably fewer. Yes, looking at you, Cronus enthusiasts.

I’m not a pro by any means, yet I find Black Ops 6 mostly enjoyable. Sure, you stumble upon obvious cheaters during public matches sometimes, but ranked play feels like a cheater magnet, even in lower tiers. It’s great when your team pulls off a win, but facing constant fraudsters gets old real fast.

I can’t say I have the magic solution, but I certainly hope one exists. As quickly as these cheat accounts get banned, new ones sprout up. Remember when EA pointed fingers at the Steam Deck for rampant cheating? We just want to enjoy some gaming time, unbothered by all this drama. It really takes the joy out of it.