Call of Duty maker Activision claims video game cheating is now a £6.3 billion ($8.5 billion) a year industry
Activision has claimed that video game cheating has become a major financial industry, generating approximately £6.3 billion ($8.5 billion) annually. The publisher’s analysis covers a range of cheating services, including account sales, account boosting, and spoofing services that allow players to circumvent anti-cheat systems.
According to the breakdown published by Activision’s anti-cheat team, Team Ricochet, cheat subscriptions alone across just 15 games generate around £2.6 billion ($3.5 billion) per year. This figure underscores the significant financial incentive behind cheat development and distribution.
The revelation comes as Activision escalates its fight against cheating through Team Ricochet, which operates globally to identify and take action against cheat makers and sellers. The publisher has emphasized that cheating remains an evolving problem, requiring constant adaptation and innovation in anti-cheat strategies. Team Ricochet has demonstrated its commitment with direct enforcement actions, including a recent takedown of a cheat service called Elocarry during a closed beta test.
Activision’s data highlights a significant challenge facing the gaming industry: the profitability of cheating services creates a strong incentive for developers to continue creating and distributing cheats, particularly in competitive and live-service games where integrity is essential to player experience and revenue.