Summary
Activision targets the manufacturer of the Cronus Zen device as part of its ongoing effort to combat cheating in its most popular and recent titles, includingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andWarzone. This is aimed at protecting the player’s experience inCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andWarzonefrom unfair advantages.
Cheaters have appeared in multipleCall of Dutytitles, and Activision has been – and continues to be – engaged in an ongoing fight against the problem. In response, the publisherintroduced its own RICOCHET anti-cheat system, which implements constant ban waves and various mitigation measures to restrain unfair play. However, hardware-based tools like the Cronus Zen pose a separate challenge. This external USB device can be easily connected to a console or PC to gain unfair gameplay advantages. Unlike software-based hacks, its accessibility and widespread popularity make it harder to control.
Activision has issued a cease and desist letter to the makers of Cronus hardware,according to CharlieIntel. Cronus Zen devices are widely used by cheaters due to their affordability and easy availability at major retailers, making them more accessible than many cheating software alternatives. However, the company isn’t stopping with Cronus Zen. It also confirmed that it has sent cease and desist notices to multiple companies involved in developing or distributingsoftware that modifiesCall of Dutytitlesfor the user’s advantage. It also made clear that it’s prepared to take legal action if necessary to protect the integrity of the game.
Activision Targets Cronus Zen After Cracking Down on Several Cheat Providers
Since the launch ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6,Activision has shut down 150 cheat makersand resellers. Notably, five of these were disrupted with the Season 3 update. To strengthen defenses against common cheating tactics, such as creating new accounts, the RICOCHET team has enhanced the Account Linking policy. This update helps protect long-standing accounts while targeting and banning users who repeatedly create new ones. Additionally, bothBlack Ops 6andWarzonenow feature Death Widget UI elements, allowing players to see how they were eliminated in-game, reducing confusion and speculation.
With the release of RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, thenumber of cheaters inCall of Dutyhas dropped, allowing many players to enjoy a fairer experience inCall of Dutytitles. While most players understand how difficult it is to completely eliminate hackers – an issue also seen in games likeFortniteandValorant –they agree that the current state has improved noticeably compared to the period before the system was introduced alongsideWarzone. That said, many believe there’s still room for improvement to ensure a fully cleanCall of Dutyexperience and eliminate unfair deaths caused by cheating. The recent shutdown of Cronus Zen is seen as a major positive step toward that goal.
