Black Ops 7 Ricochet Anti-Cheat Bans 97% of Cheaters in Minutes

Last Updated: November 5, 2025

In the perennial war against cheaters, Activision has just claimed a decisive victory. Following the conclusion of the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 open beta, the company released a RICOCHET Anti-Cheat™ update detailing the system's staggering effectiveness. The report revealed that a remarkable 97% of cheaters were detected and banned within just 30 minutes of their first sign-in, a figure that sends a powerful message to the community ahead of the game's full launch.

This near-instantaneous enforcement represents a monumental step forward in proactive cheat detection, signaling that the franchise's security measures are more prepared than ever to ensure a level playing field from day one.

A Decisive Preemptive Strike

During the recent beta, players put the next installment of the blockbuster franchise through its paces, and so too did Activision’s security teams. According to their official post-beta report, the overwhelming majority of illicit accounts were flagged and penalized before they could meaningfully disrupt the experience for legitimate players.

This 30-minute window is a critical metric. Historically, anti-cheat systems have often been reactive, relying on player reports and subsequent investigations that allowed cheaters to ruin countless matches before facing consequences. The beta data for Black Ops 7 demonstrates a clear shift to a proactive, near-instantaneous system. By leveraging sophisticated machine learning and behavioral analysis honed over several years, Ricochet is now catching cheaters as they spawn into their first match, not after they've frustrated the lobby.

The Advanced Evolution of Ricochet

These impressive results are the product of the ever-evolving Ricochet anti-cheat initiative. First introduced in 2021, Ricochet’s multi-faceted approach combines a PC kernel-level driver for deep system monitoring with advanced server-side analytics. The system’s success in the Black Ops 7 beta indicates a major leap forward for its AI-driven pattern recognition.

Having been fed years of data from previous Call of Duty titles, the system's machine learning models have become incredibly adept at identifying the tell-tale digital fingerprints of aimbots, wallhacks, and other exploits. By catching and studying cheat software during a limited-time beta, Activision not only scrubbed the test environment but also gathered invaluable intelligence on the latest hacks, allowing the team to further harden its defenses for the global release.

Building Player Trust Beyond Anti-Cheat

The prevalence of cheating has long been a source of frustration for the Call of Duty community, and a fair competitive environment is paramount for player retention. By publicizing these successful beta statistics, Activision is making a clear statement: cheating will not be tolerated. This move is as much a public relations strategy as it is a technical update, aimed at rebuilding consumer confidence.

This focus on improving the player experience was evident across the beta. The impressive anti-cheat performance was part of a broader series of updates that also addressed other major community requests, including matchmaking updates and the return of persistent lobbies. This holistic approach shows an effort to not only secure the game but also to listen to core player feedback, creating a more positive ecosystem overall.

A Promising Outlook for Launch

Ultimately, this news is a significant and welcome development for the entire Call of Duty community. The claim that 97% of cheaters were neutralized almost immediately is a bold one, and it sets a high standard for the launch of Black Ops 7. While the battle against cheat developers is a never-ending cat-and-mouse game, the true test will come when the game launches globally to a much larger player base.

Activision's security teams will need to remain vigilant and continue refining their systems. However, if Ricochet can maintain this level of effectiveness, players can look forward to one of the fairest and most enjoyable multiplayer experiences the series has offered in years. For now, the beta stands as both a powerful warning to would-be cheaters and a deeply promising sign for the millions of legitimate fans eagerly awaiting launch day.