COD penalizes non-cheating PC players with console-only crossplay

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone enter Season 3 this week with a controversial matchmaking change that has PC players concerned about increased queue times.

Activision's Season 3 patch notes confirm a major restructuring of multiplayer settings, separating Ranked Play modes for Multiplayer and Warzone while introducing dedicated matchmaking options for Quickplay, Featured, and Party Games.

Starting April 4, three distinct crossplay options will be available for these playlists:

• On: Matches players across all platforms
• On (Consoles Only): Restricts matchmaking to Xbox and PlayStation players
• Off: Limits matchmaking to your specific platform only

Activision warns that both restricted options may negatively impact queue times, with console players being the primary focus of these changes.

The PC community has expressed concern that console players opting out of cross-platform matchmaking could significantly increase their waiting times. Given Call of Duty's ongoing issues with cheating - particularly on PC - many console players prefer disabling crossplay to avoid potential hackers.

"As a PC player, I understand the reasoning but dislike this change," commented one Reddit user. "I hope my matchmaking experience doesn't degrade to the point where I need to switch to console."

Others criticized what they see as punishing legitimate PC players for the actions of cheaters. Some suggested Activision should bolster its anti-cheat systems rather than implementing these matchmaking changes.

While Activision has achieved recent success shutting down major cheat providers like Phantom Overlay, the fight against hacking remains challenging. The company promises improved anti-cheat technology this season, coinciding with Warzone's high-profile return of Verdansk.

Industry observers note that casual console players - who make up the majority of Call of Duty's audience - likely won't adjust these settings at all. Most players simply launch the game without reviewing patch notes or navigating complex options menus.

Call of Duty content creator TheXclusiveAce offered perspective on social media: "PC players will still access the largest matchmaking pool since most players won't change default settings. Those choosing console-only matchmaking understand they're limiting their options."

As Season 3 launches, the gaming community will be watching closely to see how these changes affect matchmaking dynamics amid Activision's ongoing battle against cheaters.