Ricochet’s Ban Hammer Strikes 19K Players in Black Ops 6 But Has Likely Missed Its Mark As Hackers Still Run Rampant in Ranked

After November 21, 2024, fans of Black Ops 6 became really excited as the Ranked Play mode went live. However, all of the excitement stayed for a short time as cheaters infested the whole Ranked Play scenario. Things were getting out of hand, as fans remarked this was the worst cheating scenario in the franchise’s history.

Players started becoming more and more frustrated because of the massacre of the cheaters despite the presence of Ricochet, the anti-cheat system of the game. This software has absolutely failed to deliver when it mattered the most. However, the company has assured us of some promising statistics about the anti-cheat system, but a famous streamer is highly doubtful about it.

Has Ricochet Really Banned 19k Players in Ranked Play in Black Ops 6?

In a recent tweet, the official handle of Call of Duty Updates informed us that the anti-cheat system of the game, Ricochet, has banned over 19,000 accounts in Ranked Play since the mode was launched on November 21.

The developers also stated that the anti-cheat system is using AI systems to “ramp up with code optimizations to accelerate enforcement.” Not only that, hourly sweeps have also been implemented to remove cheaters from Ranked Play and the leaderboard as well. 

However, popular streamer 100T Nadeshot thinks it’s “complete propaganda” by Activision. He has claimed that he has been “spin-botting live” at least 10 names from the first 3 pages of the leaderboard.

Complete propaganda. 10 names minimum in the first 3 pages we’re legitimately spin botting LIVE on our streams. How could there possibly be 19K accounts banned when the most egregious abusers are giving us the middle finger on the leaderboard? Are we crazy? What is going on.

— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) November 26, 2024

There have been some cheaters in the lobby of Nadeshot from Day 1 in the Ranked Play, and nothing has changed. If Call of Duty has banned 19k accounts, then how “the most egregious abusers are giving us the middle finger on the leaderboard?”

We still don’t know if this is really propaganda by the developers to keep the players in the delusion that Ricochet is working hard to sweep off all the cheaters from the game.

However, the reality is something else as the epidemic of brainless cheaters is ever increasing. Right now the best shot for Activision should be imposing hardware bans. And it is the only path to make the game survive, keeping in mind all the hate it is already getting due to its maps and new movement mechanics.

How Ricochet Works in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?

According to Activision’s support website, the Ricochet Anti-Cheat system is a multifaceted strategy to stop unfair play. Ricochet detects and stops cheaters by combining in-game techniques, investigation procedures, and server-side analysis.

Deep system-level access (kernel-level) that tracks apps interacting with the game is its main component on PCs. This enables #TeamRICOCHET, the anti-cheat team, to identify unauthorized processes that are tampering with game code.

In essence, it monitors everything that other computer programs do. The anti-cheat team can detect and take action if any program attempts to interfere with the game in an improper manner.

Ricochet analyzes gameplay data using machine learning models, looking for anomalies and trends that might indicate cheating practices like aimbots or wallhacks. #TeamRICOCHET describes a Replay Investigation Tool in a Call of Duty blog post that enables developers to examine questionable matches in search of conclusive proof. Ricochet employs a variety of in-game strategies to neutralize and disrupt cheaters in order to avoid detection.

It employs player reports and account monitoring in addition to these technical safeguards to identify questionable activity. Security is enhanced by two-factor authentication and account challenges, and competitive integrity can be preserved by manually reviewing top players.

As hackers and cheaters attempt to breach the system, it keeps evolving and receiving updates. Ricochet is a great way to stop cheating, but there is no foolproof method.

Now that we know ‘how’ Ricochet works, it’s high time Call of Duty seriously lets us know ‘when’ Ricochet is going to work, realistically.