Cheating in online games has become a persistent and costly problem that continues to frustrate players and challenge developers. Once again, Call of Duty is at the center of the conversation. Last week, a wave of permanent bans targeted players using cheats from ArtificialAiming, a provider that has been in operation for nearly two decades. The enforcement is part of Activision’s ongoing effort to protect the integrity of its multiplayer experience.
Activision spokesperson Neil Wood confirmed to TechCrunch that a large number of accounts were permanently banned, not just from using ArtificialAiming’s software but also other cheat tools. Though the company didn’t release numbers, previous waves have impacted hundreds of thousands of accounts.
“Our latest enforcement efforts disrupted operations from multiple cheat vendors,” Activision said in a statement.
Streamer ItsHapa posted on X that a “massive wave of permabans” hit users of ArtificialAiming’s cheat for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Screenshots from the group’s private forums showed banned players venting frustration. Some said they were quitting the game entirely after losing long-time accounts with exclusive unlocks and achievements.
ArtificialAiming is one of the oldest cheat providers in the gaming world. A forum post from 2021 featured a staff member claiming “cheaters won,” arguing that game developers were forced to spend millions battling exploits. Still, with advancements in anti-cheat tools, even long-standing providers are now facing real consequences.
According to TechCrunch, cheating also continues to be incredibly profitable. In 2021, Chinese police busted what was described as the world’s largest cheating ring for PUBG Mobile. Authorities seized luxury cars and froze assets worth millions. The operation had reportedly earned more than $70 million. Other cheat developers have faced lawsuits in the U.S. and Europe, sometimes resulting in massive financial penalties.
To combat these growing threats, developers are investing in more aggressive security. Riot Games introduced a kernel-level anti-cheat system for Valorant in 2020. Activision followed in 2021 with Ricochet, a system that runs at a deeper level within the operating system, helping detect cheats more effectively. Fortnite players have been permanently banned and even publicly shamed for using cheats and launching attacks against streamers. Apex Legends struggles with aimbots and rank exploits that hurt competitive play. In Grand Theft Auto Online, modders disrupt gameplay by spawning vehicles and using god mode. Team Fortress 2 players have to deal with triggerbots and wallhacks, while Destiny 2 has seen cheating services targeted and shut down to protect fair competition.
While cheat makers continue to find new workarounds, the latest wave of bans shows that developers are keeping up. As online competition increases and esports draws bigger audiences, fair play is becoming more important than ever. For companies, cracking down on cheaters isn’t just about game balance; it’s also about protecting the entire community.
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