Activision Takes Direct Action Against Call of Duty Cheat Sellers
According to Eurogamer, Activision is significantly ramping up its efforts to combat cheating in its popular Call of Duty franchise, recently taking direct legal action against a prominent cheat seller. The publisher publicly released a video showing one of its legal representatives delivering a cease-and-desist order to the Ohio residence of a notorious vendor known as Elocarry. This incident, which occurred on August 22nd during the Modern Warfare 4 closed beta, underscores Activision's commitment to tackling illicit software operations head-on.
The footage, posted on the official Call of Duty account, depicts a legal representative approaching a home and handing over official documents to an individual whose face is blurred. The representative clearly states that the paperwork is a cease-and-desist order from Activision's attorneys, instructing the recipient to contact the listed legal office. Eurogamer notes the interaction was devoid of drama, simply a formal serving of legal papers on a doorstep. This public display of legal enforcement highlights Activision's strategy to make its anti-cheat measures, branded as RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, extend beyond in-game detection to real-world legal consequences for cheat creators and sellers.
Elocarry, the target of this legal action, was reportedly involved in selling cheats not only for Call of Duty titles like Black Ops 7 and Warzone but also for other multiplayer games such as Rust and Apex Legends. Prior to the legal visit, Elocarry had been advertising a Black Ops 7 and Warzone cheat pack, claiming it was undetectable by RICOCHET, with three-month subscriptions priced up to 79.99. Following Activision's intervention, the company shared a screenshot from Elocarry's Discord server confirming that sales of Call of Duty-related products had been "temporarily paused" while an internal "matter" was being reviewed, though other parts of their storefront reportedly remained active.
Eurogamer reports that this Ohio visit is merely one component of a much larger, global operation by Activision. The publisher claims to have issued more than 80 cease-and-desist demands, targeted over 375 reseller operations, and completely shut down more than 30 vendors. Activision concluded its public statements with a stern warning, indicating that further litigation awaits anyone who fails to comply with their demands: "build cheats, sell cheats, we will find you." This aggressive stance aims to deter future cheat development and distribution, ultimately benefiting the player base by fostering a more equitable gaming environment.
In conjunction with these legal actions, Activision also used the opportunity to highlight improvements to its anti-cheat systems, particularly in anticipation of Modern Warfare 4. During the recent beta weekend, the company reported lower "infection rates," increased difficulty in evading hardware bans, and a quicker "time to action" against detected cheaters. While specific details were not provided, these claimed enhancements suggest a more robust anti-cheat experience for players in the upcoming title. The Modern Warfare 4 beta, which included multiplayer tests, a campaign mission, and a Warzone battle royale drop, saw high player engagement, especially during its initial pre-order exclusive phase, and is currently in its second, open-to-all weekend.