Black Ops 6 Season 3 is shaping up to be one of the most crucial updates in the game’s lifecycle. With new content, the highly anticipated return of Verdansk in Warzone, and various multiplayer updates, excitement is high—but so are concerns.

A recent job listing from Activision has sparked fears about the state of Ricochet, Call Of Duty’s Anti-Cheat system. The listing suggests that a key figure in charge of Ricochet’s updates may have left, leading to speculation about whether cheating issues will be adequately addressed before the season launches. Meanwhile, the removal of ranked play for a portion of Season 3 could create an influx of cheaters in public lobbies, adding to the community’s frustration.

With Black Ops 6’s reputation already taking hits due to Warzone’s struggles and skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) complaints, the next few weeks will be critical for Treyarch and Activision.

Endurance Mosh Pit Brings Double Score & Extended Matches

While much of the community’s attention is on Ricochet and ranked play, Black Ops 6 multiplayer has introduced fresh content with the Endurance Mosh Pit playlist. This limited-time mode offers double score and extended match time for modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint.

This playlist is proving to be a fan favorite, allowing players to grind high-kill games and complete camo challenges faster than usual. The question remains whether it will be permanently added to Quick Play, but for now, it’s a great option for those looking to rack up killstreaks and nukes.

Additionally, the Endeavor Call of Duty Endowment Tracer Pack has returned to the in-game store for a limited time. This bundle, which first launched alongside Black Ops 6, features exclusive weapon blueprints and a military-inspired operator skin. Most importantly, proceeds from the pack go directly to veteran support programs, making it one of the more meaningful microtransactions in the game.

Is Black Ops 6’s Anti-Cheat System in Trouble?

One of the biggest concerns heading into Season 3 is the state of Ricochet, Call of Duty’s anti-cheat software. A recent job listing from Activision suggests that the company is looking for a Senior Director of Game Security to oversee Ricochet, reverse engineering, and machine learning to combat cheaters.

The posting has raised serious questions:

Is this just a standard compliance hire, or did someone leave an important role?
Could this impact the rollout of Ricochet updates for Season 3?
Will Verdansk’s return lead to an influx of cheaters in Warzone’s public lobbies?

Learn more about Black Ops 6 Season 3 major updates from dkdynamite on YouTube.

If someone who was leading Ricochet’s development left, it could explain the delays in anti-cheat updates and even the two-week postponement of Season 3. With Warzone already struggling with hackers, Activision must ensure that Ricochet is fully operational before Verdansk makes its return on April 3rd.

Another major issue is the temporary removal of ranked play in Warzone. Without a ranked mode, many competitive players may flood into regular battle royale lobbies, further exposing the flaws in the anti-cheat system. If Ricochet isn’t in top shape, Season 3 could become a nightmare for casual and competitive players alike.

Activision Cracks Down on Cheat Providers

Despite concerns over Ricochet, there is some good news. Reports indicate that several major cheat providers have been shut down or sued in the last few weeks. Activision is ramping up its legal efforts to eliminate sources of hacks, which is a promising sign for the future of Ricochet’s effectiveness.

However, the real issue isn’t just the cheat sellers—it’s the players who continue to buy and use these hacks. Many in the community believe that some of the same individuals complaining about cheating are the ones secretly using hacks themselves.

If Ricochet doesn’t receive substantial improvements in Season 3, Warzone’s ranked mode and multiplayer leaderboards will continue to be plagued by cheaters. Activision’s legal efforts are a step in the right direction, but Ricochet itself needs to be updated and enforced more aggressively to ensure a fair playing field.

Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) Still Divides the Community

On top of the anti-cheat issues, a former Call of Duty developer recently spoke out about the franchise’s skill-based matchmaking system (SBMM). In an interview with Insider Gaming, former Raven Software veteran Charlie Alon revealed details about how SBMM works—and why it’s not going anywhere.

Alon, who helped create Call of Duty’s matchmaking rating algorithm, confirmed that SBMM is designed to increase player engagement, which in turn benefits Activision financially. He also explained that SBMM doesn’t always match players based on skill alone—it considers engagement metrics that keep players in lobbies longer, even if that means uneven matchmaking at times.

He suggested a potential fix: making skill ratings publicly visible so players can better understand their matchmaking experience. Right now, players can request their skill rating data from Activision, but the process isn’t transparent or widely used. If players had a clear indicator of their SBMM tier, it could reduce frustration and improve overall player satisfaction.

Some players have also proposed rewarding better players with additional XP, making competitive play feel more rewarding instead of frustrating. However, implementing these changes would require a major overhaul of the current matchmaking system—something that Activision may not be willing to do.

Will Black Ops 6 Recover from Its Rocky Launch?

Black Ops 6 had a strong launch, with positive feedback for its campaign, zombies, and multiplayer. However, Warzone’s struggles and anti-cheat failures have tarnished its reputation.

With the return of Verdansk, a reworked ranked system, and new multiplayer content, Season 3 is Activision’s chance to regain player trust. However, if Ricochet isn’t improved by April 3rd, and if SBMM remains unchanged, Black Ops 6 could face another wave of backlash from the community.

Right now, the pressure is on Treyarch and Activision to deliver a near-flawless launch for Season 3. The two-week delay has only heightened expectations, and any major bugs or further issues could lead to even greater frustrations.

While Black Ops 6 continues to perform well on consoles, its long-term success depends on how well Activision handles its biggest issues: