Call of Duty: anti-cheat tactics in Black Ops 7

Activision continues to take a hard line against hackers in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone. That much is clear from recent incidents in which cheaters were confronted by the Ricochet anti-cheat software. The technology appears to be an important step forward in the fight against cheating in the popular franchise.

Ricochet: a new approach to cheating

The Ricochet anti-cheat system was developed in response to the growing cheating problem across Call of Duty games. The software includes several features that allow both prevention and direct action against rule-breakers. A recent incident highlighted Ricochet’s effectiveness: a livestream by former pro and Call of Duty personality Christopher 'Parasite' Duarte captured the dramatic moment when a cheater lost access to their weapons mid-match.

Incident caught on livestream

On 18 May 2026, Duarte livestreamed a Black Ops 7 session and recorded the crucial moment when a cheater was punished by Ricochet. During the broadcast, the player suddenly lost access to their weapons. Duarte, taking the moment in stride, said: "Why did that happen? Take a guess." Activision later confirmed the incident was the result of cheat detection.

Activision’s challenges

Despite the progress Ricochet has made, Activision continues to struggle with persistent hackers in both Black Ops 7 and Warzone. Many players have used cheats throughout the season, undermining the experience for others. Ricochet is constantly being updated to keep pace with increasingly advanced cheat software, and the developers have recently rolled out improvements aimed at preventing the misuse of third-party hardware.

Communication with the community

The Call of Duty community appears to support Activision’s decisions, especially after incidents like Duarte’s. The official Call of Duty account responded to his livestream with, "He’s sus. Take his weapons away and let everyone pass him." That not only shows a sense of humor, but also a willingness from the community to stand together against cheaters.

Activision is also continuing to improve the game overall. Season 3 has added new maps, modes, and events, along with a new Zombies map called Totenreich and the Jotunn Star Wonder Weapon, further enhancing the player experience.