Phantom Overlay, a well-known Call of Duty cheat provider, has announced its immediate shutdown, leaving the gaming community in a state of shock. In a statement released on Telegram, the provider emphasized that this was not an "exit scam" and reassured customers that all services would remain online for an additional 32 days. This grace period is designed to allow users with 30-day keys to fully utilize their purchases, while those with lifetime keys will receive partial refunds.
The closure of Phantom Overlay is significant not only for its direct users but also for the broader cheating ecosystem. Many other cheat providers rely on Phantom Overlay's systems, and their sudden shutdown could disrupt the entire network of cheat services. This move has sparked a variety of reactions among gamers. One player on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed disbelief and hope that this might improve the game's anti-cheat measures, saying, "I can't believe it!! Does this mean the Season 3 cheat update is really gonna work?!" However, skepticism persists, with another user suggesting, "They're just rebranding. They have the same provider under multiple names/brands. The cheaters won't stop."
Activision has been grappling with the cheating problem in Call of Duty, particularly in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The company recently admitted that its anti-cheat efforts "did not hit the mark" at the launch of Season 1, especially in Ranked Play. Despite initial promises to remove cheaters within an hour of their first match, the reality has been different. However, Activision has since improved its response, claiming to routinely ban cheaters with increased efficiency from the Ricochet Anti-Cheat systems, alongside the removal of over 19,000 accounts.
The persistent issue of cheating has been particularly damaging to the competitive multiplayer experience, leading Activision to allow console Ranked players to disable crossplay with PC players starting in Season 2. The problem has been exacerbated since the release of the free-to-download battle royale, Call of Duty Warzone, in 2020. Despite significant investments in anti-cheat technology and legal actions against cheat makers, which have seen recent successes, the gaming community remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the Ricochet system.
In other news, anticipation is building around the potential return of the beloved Call of Duty Warzone map, Verdansk, with more details expected to be revealed on March 10.
