New 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 significant changes, which have raised concerns among the PC community about potential impacts on matchmaking queue times. Activision released the Season 3 patch notes, confirming a major update to regular Multiplayer settings by separating Multiplayer Ranked Play and *Call of Duty: Warzone* Ranked Play, and introducing a new Multiplayer-only setting for Quickplay, Featured, and Party Games matches.

Starting April 4, each of these three settings—Multiplayer Ranked Play, *Call of Duty: Warzone* Ranked Play, and Multiplayer Unranked—will feature the following crossplay options:

• 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.

Activision has explicitly warned that selecting "On (Consoles Only)" might lead to longer matchmaking queue times, and choosing "Off" will certainly have a negative impact on queue times. The introduction of console-only crossplay for regular Multiplayer has caused apprehension among the *Call of Duty* PC community, who fear that console players opting out of crossplay with PC players could result in longer wait times for them.

The issue stems from the higher prevalence of cheating on PC, a fact that Activision itself has acknowledged. Console players often disable crossplay to avoid potential cheaters from PC, which has led some to worry about the new settings. PC players like redditor exjr_ have expressed their frustration but also understanding of the situation, with concerns about the long-term impact on queue times. Similarly, X / Twitter user @GKeepnclassy and @CBBMack voiced their dissatisfaction, emphasizing the detrimental effect on PC lobbies already struggling due to skill-based matchmaking (SBMM).

Many PC players have suggested that Activision should focus on improving its anti-cheat measures rather than segregating player pools. Activision has invested significantly in combating cheating, with recent successes including the shutdown of Phantom Overlay and several other cheat providers ahead of the anticipated return of Verdansk to *Warzone*. However, the battle against cheating remains challenging, and Activision has promised enhanced anti-cheat technology with Season 3.

Despite these changes, there's a belief among some, like *Call of Duty* YouTuber TheXclusiveAce, that the majority of console players, who are often casual gamers, might not even notice or utilize the new settings. Most players simply enjoy unranked Multiplayer without delving into patch notes or settings, meaning they might continue playing with crossplay enabled by default. This perspective suggests that the new console-only crossplay option might not significantly affect the overall player pool for PC gamers, as it's primarily those who choose to opt-out who will face a reduced matchmaking pool.

As Season 3 approaches for *Black Ops 6* and *Warzone*, it will be crucial to monitor whether these changes influence matchmaking dynamics and how effective Activision's ongoing efforts to combat cheating will be in the face of these new developments.