Activision is looking to charge hackers already in the MW2 beta, Activision is taking action against those who develop cheat codes. Developer Infinity Ward had previously promised to address the cheaters in the beta of MW2, and now Activision is taking a proactive stance as well.
Hackers and cheaters have been ongoing issues for not just players, but game companies as well. Many developers and publishers are seeking alternate ways to punish hackers beyond what a simple ban can accomplish. Some companies are pursuing alternate methods, like only allowing cheaters to face each other in lobbies filled with other hackers. Other, larger companies like Activision have turned to law enforcement, much like Ubisoft and Bungie's lawsuit against a cheat seller last August.
Reports from making Warzone players invincible when cheaters are detected, the presence of hackers still undermines the integrity of a multiplayer title. The racketeering charge was added based on the scale of EngineOwning's business, as it isn't just a single centralized company distributing these codes. EngineOwning allegedly maintains a network of agents who sell on behalf of the company and take a cut of the profits in exchange. While the suit is still ongoing no action has been taken against the cheat makers at this time.
Call of Duty's Hacker Troubles Are A Symptom Of A Larger Problem
Hackers and cheaters have undermined the integrity of the Call of Duty series since cheats have existed. The need to address not only those who purchase and use cheating software but those who create it in the first place has been made readily apparent by legitimate players who have taken the matter into their own hands. For instance, one CS:GO player sold fake cheats to sabotage people who attempted to use these codes to gain an unfair advantage in a match.
With cheaters running rampant throughout multiplayer games, it is refreshing to see action taken not only against the s of the hacks but also those who develop them. Cheaters and hackers have grown bold, going as far as to mock anti-cheat systems using their names. Addressing the issue at its core and in such an aggressive fashion gives hope that fans might see a decrease of these sorts of cheaters in Call of Duty going forward.
Source: PC Gamer
Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.
