The popular Call of Duty cheat provider, Phantom Overlay, has announced its imminent shutdown. In a Telegram post, the provider offered no specific reason for the immediate closure, stating only that it's not an exit scam and that they will maintain online services for 32 additional days. This extension aims to ensure users with 30-day keys receive their full value, while lifetime key holders will receive partial refunds.

This closure has significant implications beyond Phantom Overlay itself. Many other cheat providers rely on its systems, potentially causing widespread disruption within the cheating ecosystem. Reactions on X (formerly Twitter) are mixed. While some gamers express disbelief and speculate on the impact on Season 3 cheat updates, others remain unconvinced, suggesting a potential rebranding or continued operation under different names.

Activision recently acknowledged shortcomings in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's anti-cheat measures, particularly impacting Ranked Play during Season 1. Despite initial promises of swift action against cheaters, the company now reports routine bans facilitated by Ricochet Anti-Cheat's increased efficiency. Over 19,000 accounts have been recently removed.

The ongoing prevalence of cheating remains a significant concern, impacting competitive multiplayer and drawing criticism of Activision's response. In response to the severity of the issue, console Ranked players were given the option to disable crossplay with PC players in Season 2.

While cheating is prevalent across various games, the issue has intensified for Activision since the launch of the free-to-play Warzone in 2020. Despite substantial investment in anti-cheat technology and legal action against cheat providers, skepticism towards the Ricochet system persists among fans.

In other news, further details regarding the return of the popular Verdansk map in Call of Duty Warzone are expected on March 10th.