As Activision cracks down with kernel-level anti-cheat tech, a storied cheat provider’s users lament their permanent expulsion
A New Era of Ban Waves: Activision Takes Action
Activision, publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, has rolled out a new round of mass permanent bans—targeting players caught using cheats from ArtificialAiming and other well-known providers.
- Video game streamer ItsHapa highlighted the ban wave, posting screenshots from forums where cheaters expressed their frustration and “farewell” messages after losing long-held accounts.
- These permabans lock players out for good, preventing them from simply making new accounts.
Cheat Providers Hit Hard—And Cheaters Respond
ArtificialAiming, a cheat provider active for over 19 years, was a major target of this enforcement effort.
- Forum posts reveal users mourning the loss of accounts with years of progress, special camos, and in-game achievements.
- Comments included resignation and acceptance: “It’s done for me, I’m leaving this,” and, “Lost both my main accounts today, one was almost 4 years old… risk we all took.”
Activision’s Statement and the Scope of the Crackdown
Neil Wood, Activision spokesperson, confirmed that the ban wave struck users of multiple cheat vendors, not just ArtificialAiming.
- While the company did not disclose exact numbers, previous ban waves have impacted hundreds of thousands of players.
- Activision stated: “Our latest enforcement efforts disrupted operations from multiple cheat vendors, disabling their tools and issuing bans to their users. We remain committed to pursuing those who threaten our community—cheaters, cheat makers, and anyone undermining the fair play experience.”
The Arms Race: Cheat Makers vs. Anti-Cheat Tech
Cheating remains big business in gaming, with cheat developers sometimes earning millions of dollars before facing legal consequences.
- In 2021, Chinese police shut down the world’s largest cheating ring, which claimed to have made at least $77 million from PUBG Mobile cheats alone.
- Cheat providers like ArtificialAiming once boasted, “cheaters won,” noting that game companies were spending millions to keep up.
Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat: Raising the Stakes
To stay ahead, publishers have introduced kernel-level anti-cheat systems—software that monitors everything running on a player’s computer.
- Activision’s Ricochet, launched in 2021, joins similar efforts from Riot Games and others.
- This technology allows deeper detection but also raises privacy concerns and signals just how seriously companies are taking the fight.
The Bigger Picture: Fair Play and Community Trust
- The ongoing battle between cheat makers and gaming companies shapes the experience for millions.
- Mass ban waves send a message: protecting fair play is a top priority, and the risks of cheating have never been higher.
- As anti-cheat technology evolves, the cat-and-mouse game will continue—but with the stakes for cheaters rising every year.
