Call Of Duty's New Anti-Cheat Reportedly Leaks, Potentially Undermining It Already

Activision is taking a hard line against cheaters in its Call of Duty games, and is rolling out a new anti-cheat software called Ricochet later this year with Vanguard and Warzone. Just days after its announcement, the anti-cheat software's files have now been compromised, it seems, though some believe it was an intentional leak to trick the would-be hackers.

Modern Warzone, which has accurately reported on a variety of Call of Duty news in the past, was informed by sources that the leaked files finding their way onto cheating sites are the real deal. There is no word, however, on how the files managed to become available in the first place.

The site points out that this may not be a real leak at all. It's possible that Activision intentionally leaked fake files to trick would-be cheaters into believing it was the real deal. If the leak is indeed genuine, it could be used to potentially undermine or circumvent the system, at least in theory.

GameSpot has contacted Activision in an attempt to get more details on this story. In apparent response to the news, the official Call of Duty Twitter account posted an update from Ricochet's development team, stressing that it's currently still in testing and upgrades will be ready for launch.

Ricochet is a new anti-cheat system that includes a kernel-level driver on PC that comes to Warzone this year and for Vanguard at a later date. Responding to concerns about the kernel-level driver, which monitors other applications beyond just the game, Activision said it only functions when Warzone is playing and shuts down when the game is closed. The publisher also said the driver "only monitors and reports activity related to Call of Duty."

For lots more, check out GameSpot's breakdown of Ricochet and what it means for Vanguard and Warzone.

Call of Duty: Vanguard will launch in November as Activision Blizzard faces a lawsuit from the state of California over alleged harassment and discrimination against women. Just recently, California's lawsuit was accused of ethics violations.