Activision has launched a new wave of permanent bans against players using cheats from ArtificialAiming, a cheat provider with over 19 years of experience, sparking outrage among Call of Duty players.

The cheating industry remains highly profitable, with some cheat developers earning millions from their software, reflecting the lucrative nature of this underground market.

As the gaming industry continues to grow, so does the cheating industry, with developers making significant earnings from the sale of cheat software.

In response to increasingly sophisticated cheats, gaming companies are investing in advanced anti-cheat technologies, including kernel-level systems like Ricochet, launched by Activision in 2021.

Activision has intensified its anti-cheat efforts, emphasizing the deployment of these advanced systems to combat the ongoing threat of cheating.

Activision spokesperson Neil Wood confirmed the recent ban wave but did not specify the number of affected accounts, although previous enforcement actions have impacted hundreds of thousands of players.

The bans are part of a broader effort that has historically affected a large portion of the player base, extending beyond just ArtificialAiming.

Activision remains committed to fair play, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat cheating and disrupt cheat vendor operations.

On July 16, 2025, players expressed their frustration on social media after the bans targeted users of ArtificialAiming, which has operated for nearly two decades.

Despite these measures, cheat developers continue to detect and bypass anti-cheat systems, indicating an ongoing battle in the industry.

The detection of ArtificialAiming cheats has increased, suggesting that the fight between anti-cheat measures and cheat providers is ongoing and intensifying.

The permanent bans prevent affected players from creating new accounts, significantly impacting the gaming community and reinforcing Activision's stance against cheating.

The enforcement actions have led to significant backlash from the gaming community, with many players expressing discontent over losing their accounts and progress.