The Call of Duty Ricochet Anti-Cheat team has developed new methods and technologies to combat suspicious player behavior.
Ricochet's Anti-Cheat team is responsible for providing new techniques and technologies to combat cheating in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2. In a progress report (opens in a new tab) for Season 03, various systems have been unveiled. new security measures, some of which use some truly impressive technology.
The new technology is rolling out to all Call of Duty platforms, so PS5 users will benefit just as much as Xbox Series X | S and PC.
The two most impressive new tools in Ricochet's arsenal come in the form of new methods for detecting third-party hardware, as well as the development of a new playback forensics tool. The Equipment Detection Tool allows the Call of Duty client to identify the use of prohibited equipment, which can be used to give a player an unfair advantage by mitigating recoil or providing aim assist. While the report doesn't go into the details of how the technology works, any software that can track hardware in this way is likely to be incredibly sophisticated.
The implementation of this feature was a direct response to player feedback. In his report, Ricochet said: "We are aware that players have asked us to investigate inappropriate use of these devices and we are pleased to lay the groundwork for this detection to protect against foul play on PC and console."
The replay investigation tool is simpler and allows members of the anti-cheat team to view any full match as part of their investigation process. The tool will automatically capture and store all match data for "the highest levels of competition", allowing the team to control the game at the highest levels.
The long arm of the law
In addition to these fancy new tools, Ricochet continues to use "Fades" in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2. These are tongue-in-cheek punishments for cheaters who deliberately hinder a cheater's gameplay experience.
In addition to providing a form of poetic justice, mitigations exist as a short-term solution to immediate problems caused by cheating in a given game. Players caught cheating during a match may be subject to stealth, disarm, or damage protection debuffs. Cloak and Disarm are simple.
Fighting cheats in popular games like Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 is no easy task.
The former robs the cheater of their ability to see rule-abiding players, while the latter gradually frees the offender from their weapons. In general, it is quite difficult to play a first person shooter when you have nothing to shoot.
Damage Shield is a bit more creative, giving regular players a protective barrier against cheaters, ensuring that the playing field is leveled before any disciplinary action is taken.
Combating cheating in popular games like Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 is no easy task, and it's gratifying to see Activision taking steps to prevent foul play. The new illegal material detection tools are a welcome addition and will hopefully help Activision crack down on cheaters, allowing it to cultivate a healthy environment worthy of one of the best FPS games around.