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

As Season 3 rolls out this week, *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* and *Warzone* are set to undergo a significant update that could impact matchmaking times, particularly for PC players. Activision has released the Season 3 patch notes, detailing a crucial change in the regular Multiplayer mode. The update separates Multiplayer Ranked Play and *Call of Duty: Warzone* Ranked Play settings, and introduces a new Multiplayer-only setting for Quickplay, Featured, and Party Games matches.

Starting April 4, players will have three distinct settings for these modes, each with its own crossplay options:

• On: Allows 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 cautioned that selecting "On (Consoles Only)" might lead to longer matchmaking queue times, while choosing "Off" will definitely impact queue times negatively.

The introduction of console-only crossplay in regular Multiplayer has sparked concern among the *Call of Duty* PC community. They fear that console players opting out of PC matchmaking could result in longer queue times for them. This concern stems from the game's ongoing issues with cheating, which is more prevalent on PC. Activision has acknowledged this, stating that instances of unfair deaths by console players are more likely due to an 'intel advantage' than outright cheating. Consequently, some console players disable crossplay to avoid potential encounters with PC cheaters.

The reaction from the PC community has been vocal and largely negative. On platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), players such as exjr_ and @GKeepnclassy have expressed frustration, with sentiments ranging from hoping the change won't permanently affect queue times to outright calling it a detrimental decision for PC players who do not cheat. @CBBMack highlighted existing matchmaking issues on PC, suggesting that this change might exacerbate the problem to the point of considering a switch to console.

Some PC players argue that Activision should focus on improving its anti-cheat measures rather than isolating PC players. This sentiment was echoed by redditor MailConsistent1344, who suggested that better anti-cheat solutions could prevent console players from needing to disable crossplay.

Activision has been actively combating cheating in *Call of Duty*, investing millions and achieving notable successes, such as the shutdown of Phantom Overlay and other cheat providers. With the launch of Season 3, Activision promises enhanced anti-cheat technology, which could potentially address PC players' concerns, especially with the anticipated return of Verdansk to *Warzone*.

However, there's a possibility that many console players, especially the casual audience, might not even notice or utilize these new settings. As pointed out by *Call of Duty* YouTuber TheXclusiveAce, the majority of players may continue playing with crossplay enabled by default, unaware of the new options. TheXclusiveAce emphasized that PC players will still match with the largest player pool, as most console players won't change the default settings. Those who do opt for console-only crossplay will be the ones potentially facing longer queue times, a choice they now have in unranked Multiplayer.

As Season 3 approaches for *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone*, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the gaming experience and whether Activision's ongoing efforts against cheating will make a significant difference.