In a significant move aimed at addressing the concerns of console players regarding cheating in the Call of Duty franchise, Activision has announced that players will soon have the option to disable crossplay in regular unranked matches. This long-awaited feature is set to debut with the launch of Black Ops 6 Season 3 on April 2, marking a notable shift since crossplay was first introduced as a core component of Call of Duty in the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot.
New Crossplay Options
Previously, players could only limit crossplay in ranked modes across standard multiplayer and Warzone. However, the upcoming Season 3 will expand this functionality to include “Multiplayer Unranked,” which, according to Activision, should encompass all other multiplayer modes in the game. The crossplay options available will be:
- On: Enables matchmaking with all gaming platforms when playing in the selected playlists.
- On (Consoles Only): Enables matchmaking only with other consoles when playing in selected playlists.
- Off: Restricts matchmaking to your current gaming platform only in selected playlists.
The decision comes in light of the ongoing discussions surrounding the prevalence of cheating within the game. While it is reported that the majority of cheating incidents occur on PC, a staggering 60% of reported players are on console. The actual impact of cheating on gameplay remains a topic of debate; despite the visibility of players circumventing CoD’s Ricochet anti-cheat system, the game’s immense popularity suggests that the proportion of matches affected by cheaters is relatively low.
Nonetheless, the perception of Call of Duty as a game plagued by hacks has prompted many players to seek refuge from the PC player pool, potentially affecting queue times for legitimate PC gamers. This shift could either be seen as a disadvantage or an opportunity, depending on one’s perspective.
Reactions to this change have been mixed within the gaming community. One Reddit user expressed concern about potential impacts on queue times for PC players, stating, “As a PC player… Hate this change, but I get it. I hope it doesn’t affect queue times for the game in the long run.” In contrast, another user noted that the most competitive players might opt for console-only matchmaking, suggesting that the overall impact on matchmaking could be minimal.
Interestingly, some players have raised additional points regarding matchmaking preferences. One user highlighted the inconvenience of disruptive audio from console players, advocating for an option to exclude certain consoles from their lobbies. This sentiment reflects a growing desire among gamers for more tailored matchmaking experiences that cater to their specific preferences.
