"New Console-Only Crossplay Option Penalizes Non-Cheating PC Players in Call of Duty"

With the launch of Season 3 this week, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone are set to undergo a significant change that has sparked concerns within the PC community, particularly regarding matchmaking queue times. Activision has released the Season 3 patch notes, confirming a major update to the regular Multiplayer mode. This update involves separating the settings for Multiplayer Ranked Play and Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play, and introducing a new setting specifically for Multiplayer-only Quickplay, Featured, and Party Games matches.

Starting April 4, players will have three distinct settings to choose from for these modes, each with different crossplay options:

• On: Enables matchmaking with all gaming platforms in the selected playlists.
• On (Consoles Only): Limits matchmaking to other consoles in the selected playlists.
• Off: Restricts matchmaking to your current gaming platform only in the selected playlists.

Activision has warned that selecting "On (Consoles Only)" may result in longer matchmaking queue times, and choosing "Off" will definitely have a negative impact on queue times. The introduction of console-only crossplay in regular Multiplayer has raised concerns among PC players, who fear that console players opting out of crossplay to avoid PC cheaters could lead to longer wait times for them.

Cheating remains a significant issue in Call of Duty, particularly on PC, where it is more prevalent. Activision has acknowledged this, noting that if players suspect unfair play from console users, it's more likely due to an 'intel advantage' than actual cheating. As a result, many console players disable crossplay to avoid potential encounters with PC cheaters.

PC players have voiced their concerns and frustrations on social media. For instance, redditor exjr_ expressed understanding but also apprehension about the impact on queue times, while X / Twitter user @GKeepnclassy lamented the potential punishment of non-cheating PC players. @CBBMack highlighted existing issues with matchmaking due to skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) and predicted further deterioration with this change.

Some PC players have suggested that Activision should focus on improving its anti-cheat measures rather than isolating PC players. Despite Activision's efforts and recent successes in combating cheating, such as the shutdown of Phantom Overlay and other cheat providers, the battle against cheating remains challenging.

Activision has promised enhancements to its anti-cheat technology with the launch of Season 3, which could potentially alleviate some concerns for PC players, especially with the anticipated return of Verdansk to Warzone. However, many within the Call of Duty community have pointed out that the casual console audience may not even notice these new settings, as they typically do not delve into patch notes or settings adjustments. They usually engage in unranked Multiplayer for casual fun and are unlikely to change their crossplay settings from the default.

Call of Duty YouTuber TheXclusiveAce addressed the PC community's concerns, noting that the majority of players will continue to matchmake with the largest pool of players, as most won't be aware of or won't bother changing the new settings. He emphasized that it's the players who opt for console-only crossplay who will limit their matchmaking pool, but this choice is now available to them in public matches for the first time.

As Season 3 approaches for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, it will be intriguing to observe whether these changes affect matchmaking and how Activision's ongoing efforts against cheating evolve.