In the competitive world of online gaming, fairness and integrity are paramount. Recently, over 23,000 accounts were banned in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, thanks to Activision’s Ricochet anti-cheat system. Despite these efforts, the community continues to report rampant cheating, which not only undermines the spirit of fair competition but also the gaming experience itself.
The deployment of the Ricochet anti-cheat system, equipped with machine learning capabilities, is an effort to cleanse their gaming environment of unfair practices. This move comes following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While the ban of 23,000 accounts in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 signifies an action against cheating, it’s important to note that this number represents only a small fraction of the game’s extensive player base, which spans hundreds of thousands of active players on both consoles and PC.
Voices of frustration
Responding to an official tweet from the Call of Duty Updates account, a significant number of players, including one identified as Youngstown_Mafia, have expressed a growing concern over rampant cheating in Modern Warfare 3.
Despite the ban of over 23,000 accounts since November 12, the issue persists in the game’s multiplayer and ranked playlists. Reports from the community indicate a continued prevalence of unfair practices, including the use of aimbot software and other hacking tools, which provide some players with an unjust advantage.
Update from #TeamRICOCHET:
We'll be monitoring and enforcing throughout the holidays. Cheaters get a lump of coal.
➡️ New Machine Learning detections deployed
⛔ Over 23k accounts banned for cheating since 11/12
⏬ SPLAT activated over 2k times since launch— Call of Duty Updates (@CODUpdates) December 22, 2023
The issue of cheating extends beyond just Call of Duty. Other games and eSports events have faced similar challenges. For instance, the eSports organization Disguised, founded by Jeremy “Disguised Toast” Wang, withdrew from the Valorant Game Changers eSports scene due to rampant cheating. This decision followed a heartbreaking loss where an opposing player bypassed Riot’s anti-cheat system, leading to Disguised’s elimination from a crucial tournament.
Similarly, the Apex Legends professional scene also faced controversy. A pro player, Bear, was suspended following allegations of cheating during a qualifier for ALGS Year Four.
Community reaction and the future of fair play
The gaming community’s reaction to these incidents has been a mix of frustration and hope. While the bans and suspensions send a strong message against cheating, many players remain skeptical about the effectiveness of current anti-cheat measures. The challenge lies not just in banning cheaters but in creating an environment where cheating becomes increasingly difficult and less appealing.
Moreover, there’s a growing call for more transparent and effective reporting systems. Players are seeking assurances that those who play fairly are not wrongfully penalized, which is a delicate balance for game developers to maintain.
#teamricochet U NEED TO FOCUS ON NOT SHADOW BANNING LEGIT PLAYERS
— ًً (@Icawnic_) December 22, 2023
Solutions from the academic sector
Amidst these challenges, a team of students from the University of Cincinnati has created an anti-cheat software named Fx3. The software is designed to detect and address a variety of cheating tactics, ranging from the use of unauthorized third-party programs like aimbots to subtler forms of cheating such as video splicing and altering game speeds.
The operational mechanics of Fx3 are centered on monitoring and analyzing in-game activities. As described by team member Brian Lex, Fx3 works by connecting to a gamer’s PC and operating in an agentless manner. It gathers data processed by Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) on the player’s machine. This data, primarily sourced from the Task Manager, is then relayed to the event organizers. The organizers can use this information to distinguish between legitimate (‘good’) and prohibited (‘bad’) processes, thereby identifying potential cheating activities.
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