Call of Duty is currently navigating through challenging times, and it's not solely due to the declining player numbers as indicated by SteamDB. As the second season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 approaches, the developers have been vocal about their ongoing battle against cheaters. Since the ranked mode was introduced in November 2024, over 136,000 accounts have been suspended, and the team is continuously refining its anti-cheat measures.
Additionally, the developers have announced enhancements to server configurations, aiming to deliver superior connection quality in the future. However, these assurances are met with skepticism. The situation seems dire when prominent content creators publicly challenge the developers' statements, and Reddit is rife with posts indicating that players have yet to experience any tangible improvements in server quality or matchmaking.
The Call of Duty community is showing signs of fatigue, and terms like SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) and EOMM (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking) have become contentious issues. This crisis of trust is palpable, and it remains uncertain how, or even if, Activision will be able to address and resolve these concerns effectively.