Summary
A Riot Games analyst specializing in Vanguard, the anti-cheat system behindValorant, has weighed in on the persistent cheating issues plaguing theCall of Dutyseries. WithCall of Duty’s Ricochet software struggling to effectively curb hacking, the analyst shared insights into strategies that could strengthen the franchise’s defenses.
Cheating has remained a significant challenge inCall of Duty, with developers continually striving to implement countermeasures to ensure fair gameplay. Despite these efforts, cheaters persistently find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. A recent example is the launch of theRanked Play mode inCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, where players compete in competitive matches to climb the ranks and earn exclusive rewards. Unfortunately, this highly anticipated mode was reportedly marred by cheaters using aimbots and wallhacks, disrupting the competitive integrity and leaving many players frustrated and disappointed.
Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat system is widely regarded as more effective thanActivision’s Ricochet in combating cheating. A Vanguard analyst from Riot Games recently shared their thoughts on improving Ricochet, advocating for reduced reliance on AI-based methods like data heuristics and aim models. They explained that while AI has its place, it “is not fully addressing the core problem.” Instead, they suggested targeting cheats directly by making better use of Ricochet’s existing kernel-level driver to detect locally running cheats without requiring additional boot or start drivers. The analyst emphasized that the tools to achieve this are already available but need to be deployed more effectively to tackle the root of the issue.
Vanguard Analyst Weighs In on Call of Duty Crossplay Issues
The analyst also expressed concern aboutCall of Dutyconsole players being “forced into an unsafe competitive environment” due to crossplay. They proposed that enforcing Windows security features comparable to those on Xbox or PlayStation could create a more balanced playing field. While acknowledging that cheating can never be entirely eradicated, they stressed the need to prioritize the player experience and reduce cheating to manageable levels that don’t undermine competitive integrity. Notably, a recent study rankedValorantat the top of the list for games with the most effective anti-cheatsoftware, underscoring the success of Riot’s approach.
While it remains to be seen when or how theCall of Dutyfranchise will effectively address its ongoing cheating problems, it’s clear that developers are committed to rolling out new updates. For example, just a week ago, Treyarch revealed that they are actively working onsolutions to combat cheating inBlack Ops 6’sRanked Play.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
