Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is Cracking Down on Cheaters in…

The next season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone will have some new ways to detect and remove cheaters, according to an update from the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat development team. The upcoming changes to RICOCHET Anti-Cheat will go into effect in both Black Ops 7 and Warzone in the coming days.

In short, the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system is Call of Duty's proprietary method of catching and punishing cheaters throughout various game modes. RICOCHET uses both client-side detection tools and server-side technology to analyze gameplay data and see if any irregularities show up. RICOCHET is utilized on consoles and PCs alike. However, on Windows PCs in particular, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat uses a kernel-level driver to allow for real-time cheat detection. As of late 2025, RICOCHET requires Windows users to have both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled on their devices.

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By Evan Zimmer

Activision Ups the Ante Against Cheaters

With time winding down on Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 1, Activision released new countermeasures to combat cheating in Season 2. Activision stated in a February 2 blog post that RICOCHET Anti-Cheat would be updated with improved systems to detect any cheaters who use devices like Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix to gain an unfair advantage in a match. In short, Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix are devices that can run customized scripts and macros to reduce recoil and provide aim assistance. Although both devices can be used in some cases for accessibility reasons, Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix are prohibited by Call of Duty and other major shooting titles due to them circumventing the game's built-in recoil mechanics.

As a follow-up to some changes that were made to RICOCHET Anti-Cheat during the Black Ops 7 beta, the Season 2 RICOCHET update will utilize another layer of protection to fight back against cheaters. The update will use new detection methods to disable Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix, rendering them inoperable in Call of Duty. Additionally, Microsoft Azure Attestation will be used to verify PC integrity remotely, and will work in tandem with the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements on Windows PCs. The changes will go into effect once Season 2 begins in Black Ops 7 and Warzone on Thursday, February 5, at 12:00 PM Eastern.

Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 2 Are Loaded With Content

Season 2 of Black Ops 7 and Warzone is highlighted by the arrival of several multiplayer maps and modes. In Black Ops 7, the Slums from Black Ops 2 will be remastered for Season 2, along with brand-new maps called Torment, Sake, and Nexus. A new Safeguard game mode will be available at the start of Black Ops 7 Season 2, though other modes like Third Wheel Gunfight will arrive later on in the launch window. Warzone Season 2 will see the addition of new weapons and operators, along with new battle pass content for players to peruse. Considering that new Call of Duty seasons often come with a sizable patch to download, users should set aside time on launch day to download and install the new update and free up storage space as needed.

Fit the 9 games into the grid.

Aside from the download, most Black Ops 7 and Warzone players will not need to do anything to ensure compliance for Season 2. Although Activision has sent cease-and-desist notices to Cronus Zen before, that has not stopped the Call of Duty developers from making improvements to RICOCHET. With Season 2 right around the corner, time will tell how effective Call of Duty's new cloud-based countermeasures will be against Cronus Zen, XIM Matrix, and similar devices.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 65 /100 Critics Rec: 34%

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Released: November 14, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
Developer(s): Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher(s): Activision

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In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.

The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite JSOC team on a covert mission to the sprawling Mediterranean city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.

Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.

Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.

In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.