Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Anti-Cheat Will Require Secure Boot

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is taking PC anti-cheat measures to a new level by requiring Windows’ Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. This move is aimed at ensuring a fair gaming experience by making it harder for cheaters to exploit the system. For PC players, this means enabling both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to play the game smoothly when it launches later this year. These security requirements are part of Activision’s ongoing effort to enhance anti-cheat technology and protect the competitive integrity of online matches.

Why Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 Matter for Call of Duty Players

Secure Boot ensures that your PC only runs trusted software during startup, reducing the risk of malicious programs affecting the game. TPM 2.0 works as a hardware-based security feature, making it even more difficult for cheat programs to bypass detection. By implementing these requirements, Call of Duty Black Ops 7 aims to eliminate common cheating exploits that have historically frustrated the community.

Phased Rollout of Call of Duty’s New Anti-Cheat System

Activision has started a phased rollout with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s fifth season. Currently, players are not required to enable Secure Boot or TPM 2.0, but the company is preparing gamers for the full enforcement in Black Ops 7. This gradual approach allows players to adjust their systems while Activision tests the stability and impact of the security features.

Balancing Anti-Cheat and Player Experience

While strict anti-cheat measures improve fair play, some gamers have concerns about performance or inconvenience. Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 may require adjusting BIOS settings, which can be unfamiliar to casual players. However, Activision’s strategy emphasizes long-term fairness in competitive gameplay, reinforcing trust in the Call of Duty series. By launching these measures now, the studio hopes to significantly reduce cheating and provide a smoother online experience when Black Ops 7 arrives.