Call of Duty is currently navigating challenging times, and it's not just due to declining player numbers as evidenced by SteamDB data. As the second season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 approaches, the developers have shared updates on their ongoing battle against cheaters. Since the introduction of the ranked mode in November 2024, they have suspended over 136,000 accounts, and the team is committed to further refining its anti-cheat measures.

Additionally, the developers have promised improvements to server configurations, aiming to enhance connection quality in the future. However, these assurances are met with skepticism. The situation is dire when prominent content creators publicly challenge the developers' claims, and Reddit is inundated with posts indicating that players have not observed any tangible improvements in server quality or matchmaking.

Player fatigue with Call of Duty is palpable, and terms like SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) and EOMM (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking) have turned into curses within the community. This crisis of trust is glaring, and it remains uncertain how—or even if—Activision will be able to address and resolve these issues effectively.