The idea of shadowbans sat in limbo for years, with fans unsure if they truly existed.
Players often blamed sudden skill-spiked lobbies or strange matchmaking on hidden punishments, but there was never an in-game confirmation. The guessing game is over.
As of Season 05 Reloaded, Activision officially alerts players in-game when their account is placed into Limited Matchmaking, the system that powers shadowbans.
How Does This Affect Parties and Squads?
It takes effect in Black Ops 6 and Warzone as a whole, not limited to specific accounts.
If a player is flagged, the entire team gets an alert so they know matchmaking may play out differently.
That matters because most players in LMM are not flagged themselves.
Activision says that over 75% end up there simply because they team with someone under review.
From now on, parties will hear the explanation right away instead of guessing.
Does a Shadowban Mean You’re a Cheater?
But it’s equally important to understand what the message doesn’t mean.
Activision stresses that being moved into Limited Matchmaking doesn’t automatically label a player as a cheater.
It’s a review step taken when reports or activity raise concern. Once the review approves the account, the restriction is removed and matchmaking works as usual.
Otherwise, harsher measures apply, up to and including permanent bans. The new notifications are meant to take away the paranoia and confusion that comes with silence.
How Is COD Stepping Up Its Anti-Cheat?
Activision is introducing PC-level protections such as Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 as part of a security update before Black Ops 7.
Introduced in low-key Season 5 tests, these tools block cheats by verifying the system’s integrity ahead of startup.
The anti-cheat system is being reinforced with hardware checks and LMM transparency.
For everyday players, the prompt makes it clear when matchmaking isn’t normal.
It’ll be clear right away whether you or one of your teammates has been flagged.
With this clarity, players are less likely to get frustrated or spin up theories about hidden bans.
With Black Ops 7’s flagship modes on display at COD Next later this month, the feature doubles as a preview of Activision’s new stance on handling cheaters.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best website for gaming news.