Call of Duty Community Update – January 2025

An Update from the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat Team

Instances of cheating in Call of Duty, particularly in Ranked Play across both MP and Warzone, are frustrating and severely impact the experience for our community. We’re here to tell you what’s being done about it today and our plan for support throughout 2025.

Live now are new layers of security and protections against cheaters in Call of Duty as well as updates to protect the competitive integrity of the game:

• Updated detection models for behavioral systems, such as aim botting, and other data points, including account trust and hardware identifiers to target serial cheaters

• Over 136,000 Ranked Play account bans since the mode launched  

• Enhancing cross-examination tools focused on reducing the time it takes to action accounts

• New detection and warning systems for Spam Reporting by accounts

  • Note: Malicious Reporting is against the Security and Enforcement Policy, which you can read online. It’s important to clarify that when a user spams the report button in-game multiple times against a user, or someone uses an illegal cheat tool to spam 10,000 reports, our system does not consider more than one single report from a player versus another (despite what cheat developers are telling players when they try to sell their illegal software).

• New detection and warning systems for repeat Playing with Cheaters behavior

  • Note: When a cheater is banned, our system will detect other accounts it had regularly partied up with and raise flags for investigation to combat boosting and other cheater behavior.

We have seen community questions about detection methods, like IP-based banning. We do not utilize IP-based bans for anti-cheat because they tend to take action against entire groups within a range that aren’t problematic. For example, a college campus or internet café would be swept up in an IP-based ban wave when only a single machine was targeted.

In December, we announced that we’re implementing major upgrades to the currently online and active kernel-level driver for Season 02, as well as upgrades to server-side systems in early 2025. Here’s more on what to expect from these updates, and when they’re set to be added:

• Season 02:

  • New and improved client and server-side detections and systems

  • Major kernel-level driver update

    • Improvements to driver security

    • Reinforced encryption process

  • New tampering detection system
    
    

• Season 03 and beyond:

  • A multitude of new tech including a brand-new system to authenticate legit players and target cheaters

    • Note: As we get closer to S03 we’ll dive a little deeper on these systems; however, it’s important we don’t provide too many details that could give cheat developers a peek behind the curtain

We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters whose only mission is to ruin the fun for everyone else, and we’re confident that the combination of the updates above, as well as ongoing improvements to our detection systems and Activision’s continued legal actions against illegal cheat sellers, will provide a demonstrably healthier gameplay experience going forward.

An Update from the Disruptive Behavior Team on Voice Moderation

Since its initial rollout in 2023, Call of Duty’s in-game voice chat moderation system has been an essential tool in reducing our players’ exposure to hate speech, harassment, and derogatory language in voice comms. You can read our previous progress report for background on results.

Players should have the freedom to trash talk and we're constantly working with our teams to make sure moderation is solely targeting conversations that veer into derogatory territory.

The Disruptive Behavior, moderation, and Player Support teams are consistently examining our moderation systems to make sure we get this distinction right. We employ regular tuning sessions, conducted by humans, to improve the accuracy of the voice moderation detection systems based on our Code of Conduct, which specifically calls out the type of inappropriate language we target.

Stay tuned later this year for a new Progress Report from the Disruptive Behavior team examining results for voice and text chat moderation.

Incoming Black Ops 6 Updates

In addition to all the new maps, modes, and rewards coming on day one of Season 02, Treyarch has prioritized several gameplay updates, quality of life improvements, playlist changes, and notable bug fixes scheduled for Season 02 launch based on player feedback, as well as key updates to Ranked Play:

Global

• Challenge Tracker (up to 10 manually tracked Challenges or 10 nearest completion)

• Separate HUD Preset settings for MP and Zombies

• Reduced collision with teammates to improve maneuverability around tight spaces and doorways with nearby teammates

Multiplayer

• Gameplay & quality of life updates:

  • Weapon balance pass

  • Bullet penetration updates

  • Further reducing weapon motion when jumping, sliding, and diving with the Dexterity Perk equipped

  • Improving player visibility in Kill Confirmed by reducing the height of dog tags

  • Simplifying/expanding requirements for several Prestige Calling Card Challenges

  • Later in Season 02, we’re planning on adding an icon over an opponent’s head when you shoot them if they have War Cry active, so you know they’ve got faster health regen. This should clear up confusion in firefights where you didn’t know why an enemy with more health was able to survive an engagement.

     

• Playlist changes:

  • Expanding the number of Featured Playlist slots

  • Bringing Gunfight back to Featured Playlists

  • Keeping Stakeout 24/7 in Featured Playlists and/or Quick Play

  • Planning a “Small Maps Moshpit” shortly after season launch for camo grinders

     

• High-profile bug fixes:

  • Gearhead will now properly increase the charge rate of Field Upgrades

  • Free for All will accurately calculate the scoreboard by kills and the Winner's Circle will accurately showcase the Top 3 FFA players

  • Ninja will no longer be able to reset between respawns or round transitions in certain game modes

  • Fixes and tuning updates for a large number of Calling Card Challenges

     

Ranked Play

• We’ve heard the feedback from players about wanting the choice to toggle cross-play in Ranked Play since its launch earlier this season, and in the spirit of improving the gameplay experience, we’re returning to the way we’ve traditionally handled cross-play. In Season 02, we are enabling the ability to disable cross-play for console players who want to compete only against other console players.

  • This is currently in testing and is planned to go live for both Black Ops 6 Ranked Play and Warzone Ranked Play during S02. We'll be monitoring closely and will consider further changes to prioritize the integrity of the ecosystem, and we’ll have more details to share as we get closer to the launch of this feature.

• The Vote to Forfeit feature is coming at Season 02 launch, which allows players to vote with their team to end a match early if the team is getting blown out, or you’ve lost a teammate. Forfeited matches count as a standard loss and do not result in SR penalties or suspensions.

• The ability to rejoin Ranked Play matches is also planned for later in Season 02, which should help to ensure fuller teams in matches if players experience a disconnect.

• New S02 Ranked Play Rewards will include:

  • Camos for Gold Rank and up

  • Jackal PDW Blueprint for 10 wins

  • Large Decal for 100 wins

Zombies

• As mentioned in Treyarch’s 115 Day celebration, players will be able to jump into The Tomb, the newest Zombies map at the start of Season 02

• The team remains committed to putting player fun first, squashing leftover bugs, and keeping new Zombies content coming throughout the post-launch seasons

• In addition to challenge tracking and per-mode HUD Preset settings, upcoming Zombies QoL updates include:

  • Co-op Pause: In matches where everyone is in the same party, the host will now be able to pause the game

  • AFK kick loadout recovery: If a player is kicked for going AFK in a co-op game, they’ll now have their loadout, Essence, and Salvage restored when rejoining

Incoming Warzone Updates

Let’s talk about Season 02 for Call of Duty: Warzone. We’ve made the decision to prioritize focus on gameplay tuning, adding more quality of life, and addressing ongoing bugs. This means that in order to deliver meaningful improvements to our players, new content originally planned for Season 02 has been shifted to create bandwidth to address foundational issues. These improvements won’t come all at once – rather, they’ll be staggered across the season and with quite a few quality of life changes coming mid-season. Our priority is having the most solid foundation that Battle Royale can offer and are excited for players to see it all live.

Key Gameplay & Quality of Life Adjustments

Warzone is a constantly evolving game, bringing new experiences through yearly integrations of weapons, mechanics, maps, and more. While this approach keeps things fresh, it also comes with its share of challenges. Regular changes come with the risk of shifting the game away from what some players may consider their "sweet spot," altering mechanics and features that once defined the game for them. The ongoing challenge lies in finding the right balance of innovation while preserving the core DNA that makes the game uniquely Warzone. On that note, we’re introducing a number of gameplay adjustments in Season 02 – and beyond – that we hope players will be happy to see.

• Weapons

  • Reload speeds are faster for all weapons, anywhere from 5% to 20% depending on weapon class.

  • Reduced penalty when sprint-to-fire jumping from 35% to 10% and increased jump ADS speeds by 25% – the intent is to find that middle ground of being able to pull off jump shots, without it being the meta movement strategy.

  • Adjusted bullet penetration across most materials resulting in a more consistent experience for thicker walls in particular.

  • Weapon swap speed increased by 10%, effectively replicating the effect of the Quick Grip Gloves Perk from Modern Warfare.

  • Removed burst and semi-auto rifles and low rarity pistols from ground loot - allowing for more confidence in knowing how your weapon will fire when you pick it up.

     

• Movement

  • Increased both jump speed and successive jump height with one unmodified successive jump.

  • Increased the speed of the parachute cut animation, making cutting a parachute and readying your weapon significantly faster.

  • Increased player velocity when landing from a cut parachute land, for smoother transition into full sprint.

     

• Audio

  • Reducing reverb effects to improve directionality of movement audio produced by other players (footstep, ascenders, parachutes).

     

• Perks

  • Combat Scout pings replaced with an outline that is not visible through walls.

  • Added new default Perks:

    • Dexterity (the weapon component) has been increased in effectiveness and made default for all Warzone Players

    • As mentioned above, we’ve replicated the effect of Quick Grip Gloves and Fast Reload via weapon adjustments.

  • Mountaineer returns as a Perk in slot 1, replacing Dexterity. We’ve increased the fall damage reduction substantially from what is currently in live with Dexterity, though not quite the powerhouse it was during Modern Warfare III.

  • Veteran now significantly reduces the damage ticks of Gas Grenades.

     

• Equipment & Killstreaks

  • Munitions Satchel now only provides 1 additional item, down from 2, to address overstocking and spamming equipment.

  • Maximum deployed tacticals and lethals reduced to 2 each, down from 3, to make more purposeful trap plays.

  • Gas Grenade radius, duration, and movement penalties reduced to bring in-line with the vision of a zoning tactical and less of a lethal crutch.

  • Spy Camera's outline effect no longer renders through walls.

  • Advanced UAVs will now show elevation arrows.

     

• Miscellaneous

  • Body Shield functionality limited:

    • No longer automatically releases players in free fall.

    • No longer provides an outline of the victims' teammates through walls.

    • Removed manual release of players, keeping them alive – must end with an execution.

  • The flares that fire out of Buy Stations when a player is bought back can now be pinged to increase visibility on redeployments.

  • Match stat tracker font adjusted for better readability at lower resolutions.

Bug Fixes

Regarding live issues, we know how frustrating it is to see them linger or go unaddressed in patch notes. Although our teams work hard to keep @CODUpdates and Trello current with the most visible issues, these channels do not reflect the full depth of work being done behind the scenes. Prioritization of fixes is fluid and shifts as new issues appear or as ground is paved on existing ones. As always, player feedback is an important pillar of this process – so we encourage you to continue sharing your experiences with us. 

Here are some of the fixes players can expect to see when Season 02 launches:

• Map & Gameplay Issues

  • Addressed visibility of dark areas and characters on Rebirth Island.

  • Addressed players being forced to stand up while reviving downed squad members.

  • Addressed exploits allowing players to access unintended areas of the map.

  • Addressed parachutes deploying when jumping off ladders.

     

• Weapons & Equipment

  • Addressed weapons becoming inaccessible near interactable areas.

  • Addressed weapons falling through Buy Station models.

  • Addressed weapon tooltips appearing as common when dropped to the ground.

     

• Perks & Contracts

  • Addressed Ghost persisting through the prematch lobby into the match.

  • Addressed Cold Blooded not properly countering Tracker.

  • Addressed Quick Fix health regen not properly activating while plating.

  • Addressed Survivor preventing players from reviving downed squad members.

  • Addressed Most Wanted contracts not overriding respawn timers as intended.

     

• Operators

  • Addressed Operator selection appearance issues in menu.

Ranked Play

• In addition to the above note on incoming cross-play options for console players, Ranked Play in Season 02 will see a refinement to the amount of SR required and adjustments to deployment fees. These updates aim to soften the on-ramp into accessing Ranked Play and make the top end truly competitive.

As a parting thought, we want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of Black Ops 6’s integration – the largest in Call of Duty history – which, for the first time, has brought our teams and products together into a unified development environment. While this transformation has presented its share of obstacles, it also paves the way for more ambitious updates and closer collaboration in the future. We’re essentially laying a foundation to make new technology immediately available to all of our studios, improving development pipelines and the stability of porting features between titles, and allowing us to focus more of our time on future releases.