"Call of Duty Bans 135,000 Accounts, Fans Skeptical"

Call of Duty is currently navigating through challenging times, and it's not solely due to the declining player numbers, as indicated by SteamDB data. As the second season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 approaches, the developers have been vocal about their ongoing battle against cheaters. Since the introduction of the ranked mode in November 2024, they have suspended over 136,000 accounts, and the team is continuously working to enhance their anti-cheat systems.

Additionally, the developers have announced plans to improve server configurations, aiming to enhance connection quality in the future. However, these assurances are met with skepticism. The situation is dire when even prominent content creators publicly challenge the developers' claims, and Reddit is inundated with posts from players who report no tangible improvements in server quality or matchmaking.

The community's frustration with Call of Duty is palpable, with terms like SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) and EOMM (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking) becoming sources of contention. This erosion of trust is stark, and it remains uncertain how, or even if, Activision will be able to address these issues effectively.