Summary
- Phantom Overlay, a major Warzone cheat provider, is reportedly shutting down operations.
- Activision's ongoing efforts to dismantle cheat providers aim to ensure a fair gaming experience.
- Call of Duty's large player base and Warzone's free-to-play model have facilitated the spread of hacks.
One of the largest Call of Duty: Warzone cheat providers has announced that it will reportedly shut down operations. This development could mark another step in Activision’s ongoing efforts to combat cheaters and dismantle cheat providers, aiming to ensure a fair and competitive experience across its games, including the free-to-play title Call of Duty: Warzone.
Like many other franchises with massive player bases, Call of Duty has long struggled with hackers. However, this issue escalated significantly with the launch of Warzone in 2020, as the game’s free-to-play model removed the barrier to entry. This meant that cheaters only needed to pay for hacking services, making them more accessible and widespread. Additionally, Warzone’s massive player base, with millions dropping into matches, creates a lucrative market for cheat providers. This demand is further driven by the intense competition among content creators looking to stand out, as well as players seeking an unfair advantage over their opponents.
Activision Reportedly Has Big Plans for Verdansk's Warzone Return
Activision reportedly has plans for a major return of Verdansk to Call of Duty: Warzone in an effort to improve the game’s current state.
Recently, one of the largest Call of Duty: Warzone cheat providers, Phantom Overlay, announced on their private Discord servers that they are allegedly “closing immediately” for unspecified reasons, with full closure set to occur 32 days from the announcement date. In the statement, the cheat provider assured users that this is not an “exit scam” and confirmed that those who recently purchased a “lifetime key” would receive a partial refund. Back in December 2024, the provider shifted to operating as a “closed private community” to stay out of the spotlight following the detection and shutdown of competing Call of Duty: Warzone cheat providers.
Activision Continues Forcing Call of Duty: Warzone Cheat Providers to Cease Operations
Even though the battle against cheat providers in Call of Duty: Warzone is not an easy one, mainly because the legal route to shut down their operations requires a greater effort in time, resources, and research, Activision continues to force them to cease operations. This results in them completely closing off access to cheats for players to prevent them from purchasing and using them in Call of Duty titles. This constant fight is complemented by the implementation of Call of Duty’s own RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system, which aims to reduce the negative effect that hackers have on the game so that players can enjoy the content without frustration.
Even though Activision managed to take down several cheater providers, during the period that it usually takes this route with cease and desist letters in between, Warzone continues to suffer constant attacks from hackers, noticeably affecting the gameplay experience. While RICOCHET has helped to calm this problem slightly, using real-time mitigation and prevention measures, the situation does not seem to improve to allow many players to feel safe. This doesn’t negate the fact that it’s a positive step for the company to successfully shut down cheat providers. However, for many, it would be even more satisfying if, alongside this legal battle, a fully functional anti-cheat system were in place to effectively address the issue in-game.
Call of Duty: Warzone
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- March 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Infinity Ward, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- IW 8.0 & IW 9.0 (Warzone 2.0)
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Battle Royale
