Call of Duty players have had their fair share of frustrations with cheaters, but a recent exploit has taken things to a whole new level. Hackers have reportedly found a way to kick other players from lobbies, essentially hijacking matches and dictating who gets to stay and who gets the boot. It’s an issue that has sent waves through the Call of Duty community, leading to plenty of complaints and viral videos showcasing the problem in action. Now, Activision has finally spoken out about it.

The Cheating Epidemic in Call of Duty

Cheating in Call of Duty is nothing new. For years, players have encountered everything from aimbots to wallhacks, but this latest exploit is particularly disruptive. The ability for hackers to forcibly remove other players from lobbies goes beyond simply gaining an unfair advantage—it fundamentally ruins the experience for others.

The Call of Duty franchise is massive, with millions of players logging in daily across multiple titles. Whether it’s the free-to-play battle royale Warzone or the latest mainline release, Call of Duty continues to dominate the FPS space. The franchise’s latest entry, Black Ops 6, launched in October 2024 to record-breaking success, marking the biggest debut in COD history. However, with great popularity comes great problems, and cheating has plagued the game from the start. This latest exploit is just the newest headache for Activision, Treyarch, and Raven Software.

Activision’s Response to the Hacking Issue

In regards to the hack that let hackers kick people from Call of Duty lobbies, Activision says they’re investigating newer clips to ensure it’s patched.

“The original clip shared was confirmed to be from the Black Ops 6 Beta and featured an issue that the team has since fixed.…

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) February 4, 2025

Reports of this lobby-kicking exploit began circulating online, with frustrated players sharing clips of the tool in action. One such clip went viral, sparking a wave of concern. In response, Activision issued a statement via CharlieIntel, addressing the situation head-on.

According to Activision, the footage in question was actually from the beta version of Black Ops 6. The company claims that this specific exploit was already identified and patched before the game’s full release. However, given the fresh wave of complaints and new clips emerging, Activision has launched a full-scale investigation to determine whether the issue has resurfaced in some form.

To combat this, Activision says it is conducting a “detailed examination” to see if previous security measures were bypassed. In addition to its Ricochet anti-cheat team, Activision is involving other internal teams, including its legal division, to address what it calls an “attack from all angles.” The company appears to be taking a serious stance, recognizing that unchecked cheating can lead to player frustration and, ultimately, a decline in the game’s popularity.

Cheating in Call of Duty: A Longstanding Battle

The Call of Duty community has been vocal about cheating concerns for years. While Activision has implemented various anti-cheat measures, cheaters always seem to find new ways to exploit the system.

In January 2025, Treyarch shared some insight into its ongoing efforts to fight cheating, revealing that over 36,000 accounts had been banned since the launch of Ranked Play in Black Ops 6. As part of the game’s new season, which kicked off on January 28, 2025, Treyarch and Raven Software introduced enhanced detection systems, improving both client-side and server-side security to spot cheaters more effectively.

However, this lobby-kicking exploit represents a different kind of challenge. Instead of simply making gameplay unfair (like traditional aimbots or wallhacks), this hack disrupts matches entirely, preventing players from even competing. It’s the kind of problem that, if left unchecked, could drive legitimate players away from the game altogether.

How Hackers Are Exploiting the System

While Activision has remained tight-lipped on the exact details of the exploit, some in the community believe it stems from vulnerabilities in Call of Duty’s networking system. Hackers appear to be using external tools that manipulate matchmaking connections, allowing them to force disconnect other players at will.

This isn’t the first time such an exploit has appeared in a multiplayer game. Similar issues have plagued other online titles, particularly those that rely on peer-to-peer connections rather than dedicated servers. If hackers can manipulate the matchmaking process, they can effectively control who stays and who gets removed.

For competitive players, this is a nightmare scenario. Imagine grinding through Ranked Play or preparing for an intense Warzone final circle, only to get booted from the game by a hacker. It completely undermines the integrity of the experience, and it’s easy to see why so many players are up in arms about it.

Activision’s History With Anti-Cheat Measures

Activision has taken cheating seriously in recent years, implementing Ricochet, its proprietary anti-cheat system, to combat the problem. Ricochet operates on both a kernel-level driver and server-side detection, meaning it has deep access to a player’s system to identify and eliminate cheats before they even activate.

Despite these efforts, cheaters continue to find new ways to exploit the game. While Ricochet has certainly reduced blatant hacking, it hasn’t been able to completely eliminate the problem. Some players even argue that certain hacks have become more sophisticated as a result, with cheat developers constantly adapting to new security measures.

One of Ricochet’s most notable features is damage mitigation, which essentially makes cheaters’ bullets do little to no damage. There’s also the Cloaking Mechanic, which makes legitimate players invisible to cheaters, rendering their hacks useless. While these tools are effective in some cases, they don’t necessarily prevent issues like this new lobby-kicking exploit.

Legal Action Against Cheaters

Beyond in-game bans and security updates, Activision has also pursued legal action against cheat providers. In 2023, the company sued EngineOwning, a notorious cheat distributor, for selling Call of Duty hacks. That lawsuit resulted in millions of dollars in damages, setting a precedent that Activision would not tolerate third-party cheat providers profiting from its games.

Now, with hackers finding new ways to ruin the experience, Activision may take similar legal measures against those responsible for this latest exploit. Given the company’s recent statements, it seems likely that their legal team is already investigating potential targets.

The Future of Call of Duty’s Anti-Cheat Battle

As Activision and its development teams continue working to combat cheating, the Call of Duty community remains hopeful—but skeptical. Many players feel that, despite the company’s efforts, cheaters always seem to have the upper hand.

With Black Ops 6 experiencing record-breaking sales and Warzone continuing to be a major force in the battle royale genre, Activision has a lot at stake. Ensuring a fair and balanced experience is critical for player retention, and if cheaters continue to find ways to manipulate the game, it could drive players away in droves.

At the same time, the Call of Duty franchise isn’t just focusing on anti-cheat measures—it’s also expanding its content offerings. The game has seen a wave of high-profile collaborations, including partnerships with The Terminator, Squid Game, and upcoming rumors suggesting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed content.

For now, players will have to wait and see how effective Activision’s response will be. The company’s promise of a full-scale investigation is reassuring, but unless tangible improvements are made, cheating could remain a persistent problem.

Final Thoughts: Will Activision Fix This?

The Call of Duty franchise has weathered many storms over the years, and cheating has been one of its biggest recurring battles. While Activision’s recent actions suggest they’re taking the problem seriously, players will ultimately judge them based on results. If the lobby-kicking exploit continues to spread, it could spell serious trouble for the game’s competitive modes.

With millions of players invested in Call of Duty, the pressure is on Activision, Treyarch, and Raven Software to find a lasting solution. Whether their efforts will be enough remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—the battle against cheaters is far from over.