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Warzone's anti-cheat will miss launch of Caldera map

A phased roll-out means Warzone's anti-cheat system, Ricochet, will only be available in the Asia-Pacific region at the outset of Warzone Pacific.

By Daniel Conlan |

First Published December 7, 2021, 21:36

Warzone's anti-cheat will miss launch of Caldera map

Fans of Call of Duty: Warzone are gearing up for the launch of Warzone Pacific, the biggest update the game has ever seen.

Integrating the recently released Call of Duty: Vanguard into the game's arsenal, the battle royale is getting its second new map since the launch of the game, named Caldera, it takes the players from the previously drab surrounds of Verdansk and transports them to a tropical pacific island.

Another major addition coming to both Vanguard and Warzone is the much-requested anti-cheat system. Originally announced back in August of this year, amid a growing furore over the game's cheating problem, the kernel-level anti-cheat (similar to that used with much success, and controversy, in Riot Games' Valorant) was supposed to give Warzone something it never had... an actual anti-cheat system.

Caldera Activision Anti-cheat warzone — Players are hoping for a more tranquil experience on Caldera. (Picture: Activision Blizzard)

However, it seems that it has not been all plain sailing for the anti-cheat that has come to be known as Ricochet. When it was revealed back in August, it appeared that it would arrive with the launch of Call of Duty: Vanguard, and it did in some respect, but only on the "server-side" and not, as it would need to be truly effective, a kernel-based driver that runs on players machines. Those server-side additions are also active in Warzone.

The kernel drive was supposed to go live with Warzone and then later with Vanguard, as per an October announcement, but delays to the release of Warzone Pacific pushed it back further.

Now it appears players will have to wait even longer after an official announcement revealed that Richochet would not be released globally with the release of Warzone Pacific but instead rolled out gradually across regions, with Asia-Pacific being the first region to get it.

Warzone Ricochet — For some, the full version of Ricochet will launch on 7th December. (Picture: Activision Blizzard)

This will come as a bitter blow to many who are looking at the launch of Warzone Pacific as a time to get back into a game that many fell out of love with as the cheating problem spiralled out of control.

When Ricochet will be coming to all Warzone players is not yet known but if this is truly a technical roll-out and not another delay in disguise it may well be that by week's end we are all playing fairer games. Here is hoping.

Read more: NICKMERCS reveals he's quitting Warzone for Apex Legends for the time being

Make sure to give a look at our dedicated section as we will bring you everything you need to know about every COD Warzone news, loadout tips and more.

Feature image courtesy of Activision

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Warzone's anti-cheat will miss launch of Caldera map