A new piece of cheat software claims to utilise machine learning to allow players to use auto-aim on “any console”.
The software, which was highlighted by anti-cheat group ACPD, reportedly utilises PC passthrough via network streaming or a capture card to bypass console platform security. A promotional video suggests that it then uses AI to detect elements of the video feed passing through the PC software, such as enemy movement and specific weapons being used, in order to activate the auto-aim and auto shoot cheats. ACPD explained:
“The cheat uses machine learning and sends input to your controller whenever it sees a valid target. This is aim assist but more amplified without you even needing to do anything all you have to do is aim in the general area and the machine will do the work for you”.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the next generation of cheating now available on console, and has been for a while but lately its been becoming more popular and more of a trend, consoles are no longer a safe space to play your games legit anymore pic.twitter.com/iEQzPVFf1h
— Anti-Cheat Police Department 🕵️ (@AntiCheatPD) July 5, 2021
In recent years cheating has been a big problem for many popular PC games, but console players have been relatively protected by the closed nature of those platforms.
Software like the above, however, could in theory make cheats such as auto-aim far more common on PlayStation and Xbox, because it bypasses console security by passing through a PC, ACPD said that while cheat software like the one mentioned on this page can still be detected by Sony and Microsoft, they would be far more difficult to do so than traditional cheats. In April, the creative director of Call of Duty: Warzone told VGC he shares fan frustration over cheating in the battle royale game, which has been a prominent issue since launch.
Warzone’s popularity has made it a target for cheaters hoping to gain an in-game advantage over other players, and perhaps worse still, people masquerading as cheat sellers with more malicious intent. Amos Hodge said he was “upset” that cheaters are “ruining some of the best work” he’s ever done. He said:
“Cheating is handled by our security team. But what I will say is that we have reporting tools, we ban a ton of people and no one hates the cheaters more than we do. We make this content for the players and while you’re upset that it ruined your game, I’m upset that it’s ruining some of the best work that I’ve done in my life. I made this content for players and I know that everyone around the team feels that way. We put our hearts into this content, we have 100 million players, it’s been out a year, this is a huge stage and some of the best work we’ve ever done, and to have cheaters come in and ruin the game bothers us more than anyone. I know the security team is on top of it and they’re continually going to make updates.”
Activision has said it’s dedicating resources 24/7 to identify and combat cheats, including aimbots, wallhacks, trainers, stats hacks, texture hacks, leaderboard hacks, injectors, hex editors and any third party software that is used to manipulate game data or memory.
