Call of Duty Anti-Cheat Tech Will Now Close the Game Down if a Mouse and Keyboard Player Activates Aim Assist

Activision has issued a warning to Call of Duty players: it will now close the game down it it detects aim assist on mouse and keyboard.

In a tweet, Activision said Call of Duty’s anti-cheat tech, dubbed Ricochet, will now close the game app on PC if it detects if a mouse and keyboard player activate aim assist. This works across Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone.

“Our security detection systems now target players using tools to activate aim assist while using a mouse and keyboard,” reads the statement. “The Call of Duty application will close if detected. Repeated use of these tools may lead to further account action.”

Aim assist is one of the hottest topics within the competitive shooter space. It is designed to offer a helping hand to console players when it comes to keeping their reticle on target, and, depending on its severity, can see the reticle move about quite a bit as it tracks enemy players. Aim assist, generally speaking, is not meant for mouse and keyboard players, who benefit from the increased speed and accuracy their PC-focused control scheme provides.

Call of Duty players have used unauthorised third-party hardware such as XIM and Cronus Zen to benefit from aim assist and reduced recoil while using mouse and keyboard for years. Last year Activision said Ricochet would detect their use and bans would follow for repeat offenders. This latest development is thought to target reWASD, an increasingly popular gamepad mapper software used to reassign the keyboard, mouse keys, and controller buttons. It creates a virtual controller, which in turn convinces the video game to enable aim assist.

Activision’s warning comes as the Season 1 Reloaded update prepares for launch across Warzone and Modern Warfare 3.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.