Activision, the publisher of the renowned Call of Duty franchise, has taken a significant step in its ongoing battle against cheating. The company has announced enhanced measures in its anti-cheat technology, Ricochet, specifically targeting players who misuse aim assist features while using a mouse and keyboard setup.
The issue at hand involves the exploitation of aim assist, a feature originally designed to help console players maintain accuracy. Aim assist subtly adjusts the reticle movement to track enemy players, leveling the playing field for those using gamepad controllers.
However, some PC players have found ways to activate this feature for mouse and keyboard through unauthorized third-party hardware and software, such as XIM, Cronus Zen, and the increasingly popular gamepad mapper software, reWASD. These tools create a virtual controller environment, tricking games into enabling aim assist for mouse and keyboard players.
This practice provides an unfair advantage, as mouse and keyboard players already benefit from greater speed and accuracy inherent to their control scheme. To combat this, Activision’s updated policy involves the immediate closure of the game application if such manipulation is detected.
This applies across popular titles like Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone. Moreover, Activision warns that repeated use of these tools could lead to further action against the player’s account, including potential bans.
Activision’s stringent approach reflects a broader effort to ensure fair play and competitive integrity within the Call of Duty community. The Ricochet anti-cheat system, launched last year, was a pivotal step in this direction. It signaled a commitment to detecting and penalizing players who resort to unauthorized hardware and software to gain an edge in the game. This latest development underscores the publisher’s dedication to maintaining a level playing field and a positive gaming experience for all players.
The announcement coincides with the upcoming Season 1 Reloaded update for Warzone and Modern Warfare 3, suggesting that Activision is keen on providing a cheat-free environment as new content rolls out. This timing is strategic, ensuring that the game’s integrity is upheld as players explore new features and updates in the popular titles.
