The Black Ops 7 beta is now in full swing as Microsoft opens the doors for anyone and everyone to jump in, and as the tech test moves on from its early access period, Activision has provided a huge update on how it's handled cheaters during the first few days of the beta.
The COD anti-cheat team says that "cheaters were expected" during the beta but its "upgraded systems caught them faster than ever". How quick, you say? Well, according to Activision, "97% of cheaters were stopped within 30 minutes of their first sign-in" during the first two days of the Black Ops 7 beta - with "fewer than 1% of cheating attempts" actually reaching a lobby before being shutdown.
These are impressive numbers, but even so, the team continues to encourage players to report these hacks in case its automated systems don't spot them. They also acknowledge that online gaming cheating "is an industry-wide challenge", and that the Call of Duty anti-cheat team is "committed to leading the charge" on that front.
Finally, the team has also laid into the distributors that are providing these cheats for folks to buy online. "We’re not only disabling their cheats, but also their illegal businesses as well" the team says, as it mentions that "resellers are acknowledging they have no reliable products to offer for Black Ops 7".
This is sounding like a big and fairly successful effort so far then, and during our hands-on time with the beta, we can't recall coming across any other cheats either. We'll throw a link to our Black Ops 7 beta review at the bottom of this article if you'd like a read - and we'll also chuck the team's full message about cheaters down below as well:
RICOCHET Anti-Cheat™ Update: Black Ops 7 Early Access Beta
#TeamRICOCHET hit the ground running during the Black Ops 7 Early Access Beta.
Cheaters were expected. But our upgraded systems caught them faster than ever, powered by strengthened TPM 2.0 checks and automated systems helping to eliminate a large number of attempts to cheat.
Those who did manage to slip through didn’t last long. Most never made it into a match. You may have seen clips of cheaters in the Black Ops 7 Beta. We had already actioned on most of those accounts before they hit social media. We’re watching closely, acting in real time, and learning from every attempt.
And this is just the beginning. When launch arrives, every layer of protection will be in full force, and RICOCHET Anti-Cheat’s defenses will only grow stronger.
Early Access Beta by the Numbers
In the first two days of Early Access Beta, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat has been working to protect the integrity of every match:
- 97% of cheaters were stopped within 30 minutes of their first sign-in.
- Fewer than 1% of cheating attempts reached a match, and those who did were removed within minutes.
These numbers reflect #TeamRICOCHET’s speed and precision in keeping Call of Duty fair for our players.
Your Role in the Fight
While RICOCHET Anti-Cheat’s automated detections stop most cheaters before you see them, your reports still play a vital role. They help fuel our detection models, refine enforcement and improve coverage.
Cheat Vendors Are Feeling the Heat
Major cheat providers are now labeling their tools “unusable” or “detected.” Resellers are acknowledging they have no reliable products to offer for Black Ops 7.
We’re not only disabling their cheats, but also their illegal businesses as well. We have now directly contributed to the closure of over 40 cheat developers and resellers since Black Ops 6 launched.
Vendors sharing clips during Beta were already on our radar and we will pursue them beyond in-game enforcement.
Acknowledging the Trade-offs
We understand that new security measures like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot checks can sometimes feel disruptive. But these steps help ensure a secure, fair experience for every player, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we strengthen PC protections.If you need help getting your PC ready for Black Ops 7 Beta and launch, follow our step-by-step guide: https://support.activision.com/tpm
Looking Ahead
The fight against cheating is an industry-wide challenge – and we’re committed to leading the charge. We continue to bring new systems online during Beta, fine-tuning our protections, responding faster and gaining deeper insights.We’re dedicated to transparency, community feedback, and constant evolution in our fight for fair play.