Activision
Reviews and Complaints

On July 2nd I moved across the country from Arizona to Alabama. I played the game a few days before the move, and then I put my PC in a shipping container. I arrived in Alabama and decided to try season four reloaded on July 12th since I had my PS5 with me. I played maybe two games and then didn't attempt to play for a few more days when my PC arrived. I set up my pc and immediately saw an error message on my screen signifying that my account had been permanently banned. I have been heartbroken by this. I have spent so many hours in this game playing legitimately. I have also spent nearly $300 on this account. I truly have no idea why my account would be banned. I have tried contacting activision through the Better Business Bureau and by filing multiple tickets.

I understand that the security and enforcement team goes through a very long process before banning accounts, but I am telling you with 100% certainty they got this wrong. I have not and will never cheat in a video game. I love this game way too much to do that. Please, I am begging you to just have someone review my account. I am not a cheater. I play this game with my wife and cousins. I have never even been shadowbanned. I am now playing WZII on the same pc that I was banned on without issue, so I am unsure as to how that would even be allowed. Wouldn't my new account immediately be banned for Hardware ID tagging? This leads me to believe that maybe my account was hacked and the other person's pc would have been hardware ID banned.

Also, I gave my sister my PS4 and had her create an account so that she could play WarZone with us and she accidentally logged into my account at the same time that I was logged into my PC. Could that have flagged my account?

Also, I believe that I was logged into the game when I realized that my time zone was still in Arizona and was manually set so I set it to update automatically. All of this happened right before I went to play the game. I think I was also updating all of my drivers and software since my PC was gone for a while. I have Corsair iCue, ASUS armorycrate, and Logitech GHub on my PC. I know that a lot of people say that those things flag the game.

Look, I really feel like something weird happened here. I have never cheated so can you please have a real person from the security and enforcement team review my account? I just want to play the game.

email: [protected]@gmail.com

AV ID: vash23x#2347547

PSN: VASH23X

BNET: VASH23X#1775

XBL: VASH23X

Steam: VASH23X

Alternate account that I am playing on through battle.net

Prometheus23#7864682

Get it? Because Prometheus came back from the dead. And I'm innocent, so I too will be back.

No, but seriously. I am innocent. Please help me out.

The game has a system where if you are suspected of violating the security enforcement (using cheats) because players report you in-game for cheating you will be placed "under review" for a time period of 1 day - multiple weeks. During this time your matchmaking takes a lot longer, the matches will have higher ping, and only can queue with other under review players, which means more cheaters. You can also only play certain game modes. This is anti-gamer, because i cannot enjoy playing without worry of someone falsely reporting me because i killed them, not to mention this has happened to me at least 15 times. Ive spent more time WAITING to be able to enjoy the game than actually playing normally. Im stuck in a loop.

I've been recently banned on the date of 13/08/2023, at the approx. 19:00 CET. The ban reason was "unauthorized software and manipulation of game data", even though I've never cheated, neither I had any sort of cheating software on my PC. The ban happened after playing 2 matches of Ashika Island (Resurgence), I've had both matches really good games going more than +15 kills each round. After dying the second game, went back to lobby, before lobby loading screen I've been greeted with the message that my account is banned permanently. Afterwards I've taken the case to Activision Support "Appeal a Ban". There after approx. 6 hours I've received the nice automated message that everyone gets, that I've used "unauthorized software and manipulation of game data". After that I've tried going through their "Recovery" department where usually you get a case number and a confirmation on your email, guess what? Never got any of those, because they have blocked my email, that my guess.

Woke up today to a permaban without even a warning, and it was Steam that notified me of this, not even an email or anything. Put in a support ticket, came back 6 hours later, at 5 AM on a Sunday morning as having been reviewed and confirmed as being unauthorized software and manipulation of game data, and wouldn't be removed. This has to be a false flagging, Steam and Discord are not enough to mess with the game. This false ban is now a mark against my whole Steam account, plus the single player content is locked off to me as well as the multiplayer.

Activision ID

ShifterTheLing#8851281

This complaint is being made in regards to my Activision account which "has been permanently banned for using unauthorized software and manipulation of game data". After reaceaving automated bot responses in regard to my ban appeal, the fact that this will not be overturned is completely unfair for someone who has paid over $60 for the game and has never run any type of cheating software on my PC or any PC for that matter.

Looking at my K/D ratio and my stats it would be quite obvious that I'm not cheating, nor ever have. I'm a very casual player and hardly get the change to play the game more than a day or two out of a week.

Additionally, as your software has had access to the kernel level of my computer, I am requesting access to the data and logs that show evidence of the unauthorized software that you claim was running on my computer. Furthermore, as all responses given on this matter are blanket automated replies that are FALSELY described as manual reviews, I wish to make an access request under Article 15 of the GDPR regulations allow for a copy of any information you keep about me, on computer or in manual form in relation to the above incident including the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling and meaningful information about how decisions are made, the significance and the consequences of processing, to be relayed to myself.

To summarize I am requesting an investigation into the unauthorized software you claim was running on my computer along with the logs and personal data you have obtained from me. I will happily co-operate by allowing a security engineer access to my PC to investigate, either through physical drop off or through a remote session.

Furthermore, now as I have no way to play either the multiplayer or the campaign, I am requesting a full refund as the Digital content I paid for is not fit for purpose.

Thank you for considering,

-Jarrod (jarrodthebobo)

I purchased a PC to play Call of Duty and I use an Xbox controller since I come from Xbox. Ever since the anti-cheat program was added I have consistently been shadow-banned over and over again and I DO NOT CHEAT WHATSOEVER! It's now season 5, I was unbanned the day of the release I played a few games with friends and turned on Nvidia to record my game I got into about an hour of gameplay then got ejected to the main screen. Of course, I checked and I am shadow banned once again. This is ridiculous I get like 2 days of play when I purchase a new battle pass and now I'm banned again. It really sucks cause this is the ONLY game I play. My Activision id is: Daflyingmunk#1119022 Hopefully someone from Activision can actually do their job.

My Activision account name is Dajjal1erforme#6894507 , the email associated with my account is [protected]@gmail.com . My account must of been hacked but not completely taken away from me. What I mean by that is a hacker took my account to use and exploit on without changing my login information. I live alone so I know its not somebody in my home. Please look into this I do not hack, mod, exploit or do anything against TOI (terms of service).if I recover my account I no longer intend to play on PC for fear that the hacker will have another access to my account

I just want to play Call of Duty with my friends and have a good time.

To summarize I am requesting an investigation into the unauthorized software you claim was running on my computer along with the logs and personal data you have obtained from me. I will happily co-operate by allowing a security engineer access to my PC to investigate, either through physical drop off or through a remote session.

Furthermore, now as I have no way to play either the multiplayer or the campaign, I am requesting a full refund and the Digital content I paid for is not fit for purpose.

Thank you for your time!

My friend gifted me Cold War on steam on 07/31/2023. We played for the first time 8/2/2023. After 5 hours of zombie game play, we took a break and decided to play later. After coming back to it, I received a notice saying my account was permanently banned. I was shocked, since I was doing absolutely nothing wrong, there were no hacks, cheats, or modified game files whatsoever. I did some research and learned that I am not the only person this has happened to (being wrongfully banned) and I submitted an appeal to hopefully lift my ban. I have never hacked, cheated, or been banned from any other game, especially never an Activision game. The next morning I received an email saying they would not be able to lift my ban, and that I had been banned for "using unauthorized software and manipulation of game data." They never provided any proof, or told me what software was causing this issue. I know for certain there is nothing on my computer that would allow me to have an unfair advantage against other players, and there was certainly nothing I did to the game besides launch it and play it like every other game I've ever played. Activision completely disregarded my claims that I am innocent, and my friend feels as if Activision stole his money.

Today and the last couple of weeks player on the opposite team targeting me and bullying and cussing at me and players on the same team as me don't play the just stand there I have video footage a lot of video to prove it 08.01.2023 last couple of week it been have there a guy on there saying f [censored]ing kill that guy over and over on vide the one the whole team just killing me and not the objective..my bbb420.[protected]@gmail.com 669.289.2779

Dear Sir / Madam,

In relation to the email sent at 1:13am on the 8/2/23 stating that my account "has been permanently banned for using unauthorized software and manipulation of game data" (case number [protected]) and that my ban will not be overturned is completely unfair for someone who has paid $99.99 for the game and has never run any type of cheating software on my PC or any PC for that matter.

Looking at my K/D ratio and my stat's it would be quite obvious that I'm not cheating, I just enjoyed playing this game (for the brief few hours I was able to play it) as it brought back happy memories of playing the original Modern Warfare 2. I also never received any warning of my account being under review or it being banned, it was not until I repealed the ban that a very generic response was sent to me, its obvious no real review was made and that is completely unfair to me as a paying customer who has hundreds of hours and has spent hundreds on the game. It is not logical for me to break any TOS on an account with such value and I plead with you to review this case with care. This is also an interesting ban as i have not been on the game for over a week.

Additionally, as your software has had access to the kernel level of my computer, I am requesting access to the data and logs that show evidence of the unauthorized software that you claim was running on my computer. Furthermore, as your reply seems like a blanket automated reply, I wish to make an access request under Article 15 of the GDPR regulations for a copy of any information you keep about me, on computer or in manual form in relation to the above incident including the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling and meaningful information about how decisions are made, the significance and the consequences of processing.

To summarize I am requesting an investigation into the unauthorized software you claim was running on my computer along with the logs and personal data you have obtained from me. I will happily co-operate by allowing a security engineer access to my PC to investigate, either through physical drop off or through a remote session.

Furthermore, if no actual investigation is going to be made into this incident now as I have no way to play either the multiplayer or the campaign, I am requesting a full refund for $99.99 as the Digital content I paid for is not fit for purpose.

please email me at [protected]@live.com

Kind Regards

-Berry Smith

This company is ridiculous. I have been shadowbanned 20 times now for outplaying people they get toxic and mass report yet im cleared every time but instead of some type of white list im put into this under review loop with absolutely no help from them any way I have tried to get ahold of them. Really disappointed ive been a longtime cod supporter not so much anymore

I was permanently banned from Warzone, Modern Warfare and Vanguard even though I didn't actually do anything. This happened in August last year, after trying my best to do anything to get my account unbanned I eventually gave up, but I want to play again now but can't because I was banned for something that was not my fault. Anyway when I launched the blizzard app but it said incorrect password when I tried to log in, even though it was the correct password. I then looked at me emails and saw that my password had been changed that day, but it was not me that did it, so I knew that my account had been hacked. I then contacted blizzard support to reset my password and when they eventually did I logged in and launched Warzone to play it but a message appeared saying that I had been banned. I tried to appeal the ban but it got rejected and it said I had been permanently banned for using unauthorized software and manipulation of game data, even though I had never done any of this, and doesn't even know what manipulation of game data means. Also, I would never even think of hacking as I had spent almost £200 on the game and have spent hours grinding camos that I would never risk losing.

I am now trying again as I really want to revisit and play Modern Warfare but cannot because I got banned for no reason.

I have proof of all of this in the form of support tickets, the appeal rejection and emails with the correct date.

I swear to god if there is some kind of automated response to this email I will go insane and I really hope that whoever is reading this is not a [censored] and is actually helpful, as I have tried so many times to get my account unbanned and I even have proof that I was not the account holder at the time of the infraction.

If you need any kind of proof I can send it.

First of all, I’ve been playing for years and never once needed to EVER “manipulate game data” or use “software” other than my controller tv and PlayStation. I was over level 600 in rank and been playing MW2 since day one. It’s unfair I never got any warning or anything. It’s not even like my K/D is even that high for me to be hacking. I want a fair trial and for this to be corrected. I put over 313 hours into this incompetent game for this? When there’s actual hackers that I constantly run into and not to mention the piss poor matchmaking along with the trashy toxic servers. It’s a slap in the face and exactly why Call of duty as a whole is a joke nowadays.

It’s been weeks and I’ve sent numerous emails to Activision with no avail I’m missing new content and it’s unfair that I’m being punished for no reason

I seem to have been permanently banned from MW2. I have only ever played on an Xbox One X and I wouldn't even begin to know how to cheat or break any TOS. I have played every COD since its inception and have never had a single issue of any sort from my end or Activision end. I have researched how to appeal and have my falsely banned account opened but all avenues through online means has been closed I assume due to the ban. I am a 46 year old adult who has been gaming since I got my Atari 5200 in the 80's and never have I been unable to play a game that I bought with my very hard earned money. As this issue lies squarely on you Activision any failure to remedy your mistake is a reflection on you as a company and the people who are employed by you. I ask politely that you please fix this issue and return the ability to play what I paid for or refund me the full amount I paid for your product which you have unfairly and mistakenly taken from me. And as a permanent ban implies I have broken your TOS, I take offense to being treated as though I have been anything but a proper and fair player and an apology would also be appreciated for I have had to explain to my children that I was banned but did nothing to receive the ban. My user name is Joby Wan 77 and I use my Xbox account to log in to the Activision account, and my Xbox user name is also Joby Wan 77. Thank you so much for your time seeing to the remedy of this matter and I appreciate it greatly, please have a wonderful day. Joby Grantland

Hire more support maybe? Maybe pay your support staff more? Look - I've been around since Atari, and the support staff are the bridge between the needs of the players and the corporate enterprise. Deciding on my next game purchase may come down to feeling like the company cares about my grievances and that I have been heard by the proper department.

Game is unplayable as it's permanently stuck at 1-2% optimizing shaders.. this means I have zero way to play the game I paid for. I have tried reinstalling, installing warzone (a suggested fix on Reddit), installing a second language (another suggested fix on Reddit), updating my drivers, repairing the install through battle.net, and I have searched endlessly through their website for any kind of support on the issue. There is a ticket option but it only gives me an error after I submit, no email confirmation, so I have no idea if my ticket went through or not. As it stands I absolutely cannot access the product I paid for and I have no way of getting any support.

I play COD mobile everyday for hours and I had purchased the one month supply pass and at the end of it I still had 2 orange tier pass cards and 30 CP credits to claim. I go to do that and it isn't there at all, didn't receive anything. I get ahold of your so called online support and that is a joke! Seriously, they are like f ing robots. They send the same reply, no I'm sorry for your troubles or try to go into detail of how to help me just the same crap over and over like they click a pre made sentence or paragraph. It is a simple task to fix and I sent the info they requested but it's like non of them comprehend. I am so baffled as to how you are so big in the gaming world and have literally the [censored]tiest online support. If you want proof of how amazingly crappy it is, I can screenshot their responses.

Been shadowbanned twice for faulty excessive reporting due to immature gamers. Wife bought me another account to play with and got shadow banned on that. Spend hundred if not thousands on games, bundles, and battle passes and get treated like a cheater. They can’t even remove the real ones. There is no one to talk to about it but yet they keep collecting millions on people. There is definitely a reason why this game has gone down hill and has lost a lot of their players.

I've just built a PC to enhance my Warzone experience, as I've currently been playing on my old PS4. This rig was built solely to play Warzone/Call of Duty titles. I've been playing Call of Duty titles for the past 20 or so years, so I'm very invested in ensuring my progression carries over to Battle.net (not to mention the money spent on COD purchases).

Now that everything is installed on my PC, all I'm trying to do is link my Battle.net account in the Activision portal, but the "Verification Email" never comes through, so I'm not able to proceed in linking my accounts. I have an open ticket with support, but they have passed me off to a "Specialized Team" and I've not heard anything from them. I feel like this is a black hole they dump people into so they do not have to deal with the issue.

I know when people have problems with the COD store, they are resolved almost instantly, so money can keep flowing. It is really sad to see a cross platform game be this broken and have a company not care to fix it.

First of all, why do you have a department in your company that handles your customer's accounts bans and violation enforcement yet give the customers ZERO way to actually contact them to seek clarification and make a defense of themselves? Are you guys so confident that the "security/enforcement team" and the autonomous anti-cheat system that you guys developed in-house Ricochet never make a single mistake?

Even top grade commercial anti-viruses frequently flag false positives, yet you're so confident your infantile anti-cheat system is 100% correct, is it? Your anti-cheat falsely banned thousands of players during the game's launch alone, this is widely reported by gaming journals such as PC Gamer and IGN, and has continued to do so albeit at smaller scale since.

The Support team can offer zero help because they're 'not the security team'. So where are we, who were falsely and unwarrantedly banned, supposed to seek help from?

Secondly, the 'Appeal' system is a farce and is useless. I've investigated and observed that it gave the exact same response to 100% of the appeals posted online. This means 100% of everyone you banned are 100% "verified" cheaters, which I know to be false because I have over 200 videos on YouTube and has been playing since Warzone 1, in other words, 3+ years. So did you guys failed to catch me cheating in the 3+ years that I've played CoD and Warzone, or does it have something to do with the fact that your recent update to Ricochet is false flagging a ton of people? I have already linked this evidence to you guys multiple times, in the Appeal, in the ticket, in the emails, et cetera but you guys have refused me service with a simple copy & paste response that completely disregard your loyal fans and customers.

I've offered Activision my full cooperation to prove my innocence and all I can get is a generic copy & paste response akin to an automated bot. The level of arrogance and callousness that you guys are showing to your fans and consumers is astounding for a company of this size.

If you're not going to re-investigate my account thoroughly and properly like you should have already done when I used your Appeal system and as I've requested you to multiple times, I'll begin filing for chargebacks for as many purchases I have made in-game as possible with my bank. You're not going to rob my money and of what I've spent my money for when I've done nothing wrong.

Do you think an actual cheater would have gone to such lengths as I have to simply request you guys to just properly *look* into the details of their ban?

Activision ID Soju#2926481

Battlenet ID sainthuang#1521