Ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's release, Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Activision has announced a new anti-cheat initiative aimed at removing cheaters from the game within one hour of their first match.
Cheating has been a persistent problem in the Call of Duty series, particularly in the PC version of Warzone.
In response, Activision has invested significantly in anti-cheat technology, including legal action against cheat developers. Now, the company is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its efforts.
AI-Driven Anti-Cheat System
Activision's new approach involves AI-powered behavioral models to detect cheating based on player behavior rather than just software manipulation.
"Cheat developers can't hide player behavior. How people play – the legit, the phony, the good, and the bad – gives us information, and we use that to build ways to pick those bad folks out of a lineup," the company explained in a blog post.
This system analyzes gameplay data, drawing from sources like the Call of Duty League, where every match is recorded. By studying player behavior at both high and low skill levels, the AI helps identify cheaters based on irregularities in their gameplay patterns.
As part of this effort, Activision has set a goal to remove cheaters within one hour of their first match.
During Black Ops 6's beta testing, this "Time to Action" metric saw cheaters banned after an average of five matches. Additionally, 12,000 cheating accounts were blocked before entering a match during the beta.
Kernel-Level Driver And Enhanced Detection
The launch of Black Ops 6 will also include an updated version of Activision's kernel-level anti-cheat driver. This update, which applies to both Warzone and Black Ops 6, incorporates machine-learning systems designed to detect cheats such as aim bots more quickly. The system will focus on analyzing gameplay data in real-time to provide more efficient cheat detection.
In the ongoing battle against cheats, Activision emphasized that cheat developers are part of organized groups that exploit game data. "These bad actors leave breadcrumbs behind, and we're always looking for those breadcrumbs to get them out of the game," the company said.
Black Ops 6 Launch
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set to launch on Oct. 25. The game will feature enhanced security measures alongside new multiplayer maps, modes, and operators. Preloads and global launch times have been confirmed.
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Image credits: Activision.
