Activision has released impressive anti-cheat statistics for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 while extending the game's beta period by one day ahead of the upcoming Battlefield 6 launch. The company's latest claims about its upgraded security systems and the strategic beta extension highlight the intensifying competition in the first-person shooter market.
Enhanced Anti-Cheat Performance Shows Dramatic Improvements
According to Activision's official blog post, the company's upgraded anti-cheat systems have achieved remarkable results during the Black Ops 7 early access beta period. The publisher claims that 97% of detected cheaters were banned within 30 minutes of their first sign-in, with fewer than 1% of cheating attempts actually reaching a match. Those who did manage to slip through the initial detection were reportedly removed within minutes of entering gameplay.
The enhanced performance stems from strengthened TPM 2.0 checks and automated systems powered by the Ricochet anti-cheat platform. The new Call of Duty requires secure boot and TPM 2.0 to be played on PC, similar to Battlefield 6's requirements. This kernel-level access approach has raised concerns among some gamers about privacy and system security, particularly affecting Linux users who cannot meet these hardware requirements.
Ricochet AI System Demonstrates Practical Applications
The automated detection capabilities are primarily attributed to Ricochet's AI-powered systems, representing one of the more successful implementations of machine learning in gaming security. Despite its rocky history, including a notable 2024 incident where the system was compromised and used to ban legitimate players, Ricochet has evolved to include creative countermeasures that trick cheaters into self-reporting through social media when their hacks appear to malfunction.
Activision reports that major cheat providers are now labeling their tools as unusable or detected, while resellers acknowledge having no reliable products to offer for Black Ops 7. The company has also taken direct legal action, contributing to the closure of over 40 cheat developers and resellers since Black Ops 6 launched.
Statistical Methodology Raises Questions About Actual Impact
Critics have pointed out potential statistical limitations in Activision's claims. The 97% figure specifically refers to cheaters that Activision successfully detected, not the total population of potential cheaters in the game. This means undetected cheaters cannot be factored into the statistics, potentially creating an inflated success rate that doesn't reflect the complete picture of cheating activity across the platform.
The methodology essentially measures detection efficiency rather than overall cheat prevention. If hypothetically 1,000 cheaters were active but only 100 were detected, banning 97 of those 100 within 30 minutes would still allow the company to claim the same 97% success rate while 900 cheaters remained undetected.
Beta Extension Signals Competitive Response to Battlefield 6
In a strategic move coinciding with these anti-cheat announcements, Activision has extended the Black Ops 7 beta until 9 AM Pacific Time on October 9, 2025. The extension provides players with an additional day of access before Battlefield 6's launch on October 10, demonstrating the fierce competition between these flagship FPS franchises.
The beta has been available to early access players since October 2 and opened to all players on October 5. The developers cited positive community feedback and player engagement as reasons for the extension, though the timing clearly positions Black Ops 7 as a direct competitor to EA's upcoming release.
 |
|---|
| Experience the excitement of modern gaming setups as Black Ops 7 extends its beta to compete with upcoming releases |
Industry Implications for Anti-Cheat Technology
The reported success of Black Ops 7's anti-cheat measures, if accurate, could influence industry standards for game security. The combination of hardware-level requirements and AI-powered detection represents a significant escalation in the ongoing battle between game developers and cheat creators. However, the approach also raises questions about accessibility and user privacy that the gaming industry continues to grapple with as security measures become increasingly invasive.