The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 multiplayer beta began on October 2 and was quickly interrupted by cheaters. Of course, cheating happens in most popular multiplayer games, and with the surface area of Call of Duty being so large, cheaters were always going to find a way to do what they do.
Now, Activision has shared some data points about cheating in the beta so far, led by the statistic that 97% of cheaters were stopped within 30 minutes of when they signed in for the early-access beta. Further, fewer than 1% of people who attempted to cheat actually got into a match. Those who did were booted “within minutes.”
“Cheaters were expected. But our upgraded systems caught them faster than ever, powered by strengthened TPM 2.0 checks and automated systems helping to eliminate a large number of attempts to cheat,” Activision’s anti-cheat team, Ricochet, said. “Those who did manage to slip through didn’t last long. Most never made it into a match.”
People may have seen clips online of people cheating in the Black Ops 7 beta, and that maybe made you think the beta was overrun with cheaters. However, Activision said, “We had already actioned on most of those accounts before they hit social media.”
“We’re watching closely, acting in real time, and learning from every attempt. And this is just the beginning. When launch arrives, every layer of protection will be in full force, and Ricochet anti-cheat’s defenses will only grow stronger,” the developer said.
Activision added that its anti-cheat efforts have included disabling the cheats provided by cheat-makers and shutting down their businesses altogether. “We have now directly contributed to the closure of over 40 cheat developers and resellers since Black Ops 6 launched. Vendors sharing clips during beta were already on our radar and we will pursue them beyond in-game enforcement,” Activision said.
Also in its post, Activision admitted that the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements for Black Ops 7’s beta can feel “disruptive,” but it’s necessary to “help ensure a secure, fair experience for every player, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we strengthen PC protections.”
The Black Ops 7 beta is now free and open to everyone following the early-access period. Additionally, Activision has added something fans had been asking for: a non-SBMM playlist.
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