Long after live-service games are released into the world, their developers spend countless hours trying to combat and stay ahead of cheaters. Call of Duty is no stranger to the cheating epidemic, having outlined in the past the efforts it takes to keep bad actors from infiltrating its games and ruining the experience for everyone else.
In addition to its current efforts, Call of Duty is now coming down hard against those using Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix devices, expensive peripherals that are sold online and can provide players with a leg up against the competition via modifications like enhanced aim assist or rapid fire. Think a modded controller with way more functionality.
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Now, those using the device could find themselves in hot water, as Activision has outlined the action it’s taking against the devices.
Bans Could Be On The Way For Those Caught Using A Zen
In a section of the Call of Duty Blog titled “Taking Aim at Unapproved Input Modification Devices,” Activision wrote that “unapproved third-party devices” have no place in COD.
“Stopping these devices takes more than looking for a specific piece of hardware because they are designed to hide, adapt, and change configurations to avoid simple detection,” Activision wrote.
The availability of these devices at retailers has led to “confusion,” but make no mistake, they’re “cheating tools.”
“These devices provide unfair advantages that exploit aim assist and make players question whether they’re losing to a stronger competitor or to a cheater,” Activision explained. “They disrupt fair play, and they’re a violation of Activision’s Security and Enforcement policy.”
To combat the devices, Activision is taking an input detection-based approach, attempting to distinguish genuine human skill from that of what a device can provide.
“Because devices like Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix are highly configurable, there is no single signature to block,” Activision explained of its approach. “Instead, these detections are built to recognize classes of machine-driven behavior, even as configurations change.”
Beginning with Season 2 of Black Ops 7, basic configurations of these devices will be used as a starting point, with seemingly more work to come in the seasons that follow. The end goal, however, remains the same — ensure these devices no longer work in COD.
“These systems are designed to evolve, adapt, and expand until input modification devices no longer provide an advantage in Call of Duty,” Activision asserted.
It’s worth noting that devices like the Zen aren’t just used in shooters. Because they can be modified heavily, their use often spans into other games like sports titles, too. Still, what Activision is doing is rather unprecedented, and if it pays off, perhaps other companies will follow suit.
- Released
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November 14, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
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