Activision
Reviews and Complaints

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

My email account is [protected]@gmail.com For the last 3 days I have played and I've been kicked from the game and lost all of my progress items money you name it. I recorded my last one that just happened about 10 minutes ago I didn't pay the money that I do and continue to pay the money that I do for a game to continuously mess up and take my things from me. I think there should be a system to either a fix. This or b be rewarded my things back. Because that's a lot of time that I don't get back that. I've put into it and I love playing the game but I hate when I lose all my stuff. My name is Randall wells 35

Hi I am a long life xbox player, but recently built a pc to explore pc gaming.

(build date of pc June 5th.)

I downloaded the steam version of warzone on June 17th. connected my steam profile to my Activision account. Open the game and looked into the store. my cod point were not showing. Didn't play a single match of warzone or dmz.

Was having issues in other games crashing. Found my bios level was at 1.02. updated the bios to 7.0.

On June 26th tired to play warzone and dmz again, couldn't connect to online services Checked all my internet setting etc, still the same. Download the battlenet version of the game and connect my Activision account. Same, cannot connect to online services. Checked my xbox which is my primary gaming machine. The same issue.

At this point, i haven't played a single game of modern warfare 2, warzone or dmz on my pc and I still don't know i have been banned.

I try again to connect on my bedroom xbox, its a older model and runs a bit slower. I notice when im pressing retry to connect a second prompt box in the background flashing up for milliseconds. I has to take a video on my phone, i slow the video down and the second prompt box says i have permanently banned.

Again I have not played a signal game of modern warfare 2 warzone or dmz on my pc, I haven't been accused of cheating by any fellow player.

At this point i'm dumb struck but i know mistakes happen. i go to support for help and check the ban appeal process, it confirms i am indeed banned. I appeal the ban, expecting to be fully reinstated. But the ban is upheld with no chance of me defending myself or speaking to some one on the issue.

I connect support again to try and plead my case to be told all decisions are final.

Again i have never played a single game of call of duty on my pc. How can i been banned.

I've lost my xbox account and cant access my skins, cod points and camos I've spent hour unlocking.

I am disabled and i don't really leave the house, playing call of duty with friends and speaking online is my only really outlet.

Please help me.

Thank you for your time

My account appears to be in a loop where my account is constantly under review. This issue has been persistent since mid February of this year, since then my accoutn has been under review approximately 14 times, furthermore none of the reviews resulted in a permanent or temporary ban. I have never experienced this issue during Season 1 of MW2 or any past CoD Titles connected to the same account. I have tried reaching out to Activision support numerous times through various channels (including Better Business Bureau). In the rare occasion that I receive a response, no helpful information, it was simply confirmed that my account was under review (which is information already accessible to me). In addition, whenever I would create a support ticket, the ticket would simply be closed a few minutes after submission with no feedback or resolution. Below you will find a screenshot of the Appeal-A-Ban website with the corresponding account information. I play on PC and connect through the BattleNet launcher

Banned for no reason. I was not even informed that I was banned, I had to find out on my own what was going on with my game. Activision has banned me from the game I paid full price for while lying and claiming I used "unauthorized software and manipulation of game data." I have not even installed anything new on my computer since the day I bought the game at launch. They refuse to actually review my ban.

I go by HEAVEN, also known as RICHFOREVEH. I have amassed over 250k followers on social media, I was on stream playing when the whole lobby decided to report me because they recognized who I was in the game. I was disconnected and started experiencing long wait times and lobbies full of modders. I spent over thousands of dollars on this franchise and put food on the table of these employees. Activision does not have a true support system they have an automated system which lets the computer decide weather you should be banned or not based off your reports. This is ILLEGAL.. for another player to hold the power to ban you by spamming reports is a lawsuit in its own violating consumer rights. I have a great team of lawyers and a lot of time on my hands. I plan on flying into the headquarters in Santa Monica this month to unban my account in person. My Instagram is RICHFOREVEH and my account is RICHFOREVEH#7845148.

Dear activision, i have recently purchased your game and i had been shadow banned immediately resulting in my first lobby being a shadowban lobby. About a week ago i was confirmed to be clear of any cheats and i checked by status on the appeal a ban board. This week just before S4 of the battle pass i have been put under review again meaning that i cant find a lobby that isn't either already finished or isn't full of cheaters and sweats that have had a similar issue and have been falsely reported since they are good at the game.

I cant find a good match and i haven't been given a reason for my account to be put under review, I have heard that it may be because i have razer synapse for my keyboard RGB lights but you could be reported too but even when the investigation ended last time i wasn't given a reason for my shadowban, I am now stuck in lobbies where the game is over already when i join.

Dear Activision Support,

It has been months since I played this game seriously again but as I came back I realised that the false shadow banning problem still exists. This issue seems to affect only select accounts which from my research tend to be at random but it remains consistent within those accounts, when reaching your 10th kill, by looking at the next enemy the game will "disconnect" you and when checking the appeal a ban site, you will see that the account is "under review". I've been having this issue since the launch of Warzone 2 and I've tried everything to solve it, there is no reason for me to be shadow banned as I haven't cheated but this system is clearly flawed and is fuelled by paranoia that this game will suffer the same hacking problem than the last. Doing this does breach consumer rights as I'm 100% certain there is no reason for me to be shadow banned seeing as I don't cheat or even display suspicious behaviours in game. The breach in consumer rights is because this affects the paid portion of the game (Modern Warfare 2) as well as restricts the gameplay in both modes, even though I've payed full price for the game, even more in fact as I purchased the Vault edition, and I've bought the battle pass. Paying full price for a game that then with no reason doesn't allow me to play for a week after reaching a certain amount of kills is surely not appropriate. I urge you to at least consider making a thorough look at my activity in this game in order to truly see if any breach in the terms of service was made that could cause my account to be under review. It is clear this is a flawed automatic process as the review is lifted after an exact amount of time, for me being exactly a week.

I hope we can come to a reasonable resolve for this issue, which would be to lift the review on my account as well as making sure this happens far less often if not never again. My Activision ID is - 20 Nuggets#1382242

Thank you.

I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration regarding the consecutive and unwarranted account reviews that my account has undergone recently. I have been a loyal player and supporter of Activision's games for a considerable period of time, and I believe in maintaining a fair and respectful gaming environment. However, the recent experience with my account has left me baffled and disappointed.

My account details are as follows:

Email: [protected]@gmail.com

In-game Username: YT-BLADExOP#2437042

I would like to highlight that my account has now gone under review for the third time in a row, without any apparent reason or explanation. This repetitive account review process has caused a significant disruption to my gaming experience and has left me feeling unfairly targeted. I have diligently followed all the terms and conditions outlined by Activision and have always adhered to the code of conduct.

I kindly request your immediate attention and assistance in resolving this matter. The consecutive account reviews have not only affected my ability to access and enjoy my favorite games but have also impacted my trust in the platform. I understand that account security is of utmost importance, but I would appreciate if you could provide me with specific details regarding the reasons for these reviews. This information would help me better understand the situation and take necessary measures to prevent such issues in the future.

Moreover, I would like to emphasize that during these reviews, I have not engaged in any activities that violate the terms of service or compromise the integrity of the games. I have invested a considerable amount of time and money into my account and the associated progress, and it is disheartening to experience such interruptions without any reasonable explanation.

In light of the circumstances, I kindly request the following actions to be taken:

Conduct a thorough investigation into my account and provide detailed feedback on the reasons for the consecutive account reviews.

If any violations or suspicious activities have been identified, please provide specific evidence to support those claims.

Take immediate steps to rectify the situation and reinstate my account to its previous state, ensuring that it is free from any unjust restrictions or penalties.

Implement measures to prevent such unnecessary account reviews from occurring in the future and improve communication channels to keep players informed about the status of their accounts.

I believe in maintaining a positive and fair gaming environment and have always supported Activision and its endeavors. I sincerely hope that you will address this matter promptly and with the utmost professionalism. I look forward to a swift resolution and a continued enjoyable gaming experience.

Please let me know if there are any additional details or documents that you require from my end to expedite this process. I can be reached at the email address mentioned above or through the in-game username provided. Thank you for your attention, and I anticipate a satisfactory resolution to this issue.

Hi, I got permabanned for using software that I've never even touched in my life. I love the game and play a lot, but get about 5 kills a game! I tried to appeal the permaban and it got shut down. I now can't appeal or talk to anyone. I know from reddit that this is an appallingly common issue.

Happy to have anyone go though my computer and see that I'm not using any of the said software.

I am a pc gamer since the days of agp... Thats how young I was when I started building computers to play game... I have been through so much in life that I look at video gaming as my escape from depression and other social issues I was faced with while growing... A few years ago I got into the cod gaming vibes and I started enjoying the whole franchise... I made my first purchase buying warzone 1 and my second buying warzone 2... Warzone 1 I had a gen4 i5 and gtx 1070 with 16gb ram... But when warzone 2 came out I found out I could not run it properly so I built another pc using my xmas bonus from work... I bought a new board from msi z690-a-wifi-pro, 12th gen i5, 32gb ddr4 corsair vengeance, even msi 390 nvme drives just for gaming... I kept my gtx 1070 because the newer cards were very expensive at the time... I also bought a new mouse from razer the death adder v2 mini and kept my corsair keyboard... After building the pc I installed legit software from razer and corsair to tune my keyboard and mouse in terms of rgb settings and mouse dpi... After playing from since january to last night june 5th 2023, I got into a lobby where I noticed gameplay as horrible where I would shoot persons but they would disappear instantly and I would die right away... I got so pissed off and told my friends that and they said I was cheating and started laughing... One actually knew I was serious and said that it was impossible for me to cheat because I literally sucked at the game when I play with them always and I had the lowest kills maybe 9 as my most ever I think and that I played like a rookie... Then one who knew I always record my gameplay hoping to record me playing well and even winning the game to upload to youtube (I have a few videos there) he asked me if my game was recorded to which I confirmed with videos I sent them... They saw right away I was innocent and told me most likely it was an issue with activision and that I should appeal the ban which I did... I got shut down by the game and their report stated that I had software and something... After trying my best to figure out what happened I am reading many persons have fallen victim to this most especially due to the fact of their razor software and corsair software which in no way interferes with the game nor its files... What hurts me more I cannot even play the game offline and my effort just got wasted to be happy doing something legit... Why sell me a product then take it away from me because I own legit gaming mouse and keyboard software? Ok fine you took your game back why not refund me my 70 dollars which I paid for the game? I played for about 4 years and have never cheated and I do not condone such... I know its a long shot but I hope something is done about this anticheat software that is messing up the game for legit gamers... For a game I was really falling in love with I do not see me continuing anymore if this is not resolved in a timely manner. How does rgb software come up as a cheating software? How? I bet all the data ricochet collected from my pc in regards to banning me came as a result of my rgb software and mouse software that was installed... I guess changing my dpi is now illegal...

Got yesterday my 30th! shadow ban.

Can now again only play in flagged lobbies where every second player is aimbotting so obvious.

What is this shadow ban report system about?

There are literally also so many low account players which are completely lost in it I don’t understand how people like that get shadow banned.

It’s so stupid…

How you want to hold a player base with this false ban system?!?!

I am writing to express my disappointment and frustration regarding the recent shadow ban imposed on my Call of Duty account. I've been a dedicated player of Activision's games for the better part of 14 years (or more), I have invested significant time and money into enjoying and supporting Activision's games over the years.

It is infuriating to find out that my account has been subjected to a shadow ban the night of May 31st going into the early hours of June 1st without any apparent reason or justification. This has occurred several times in the last month, this time lasting for longer than a day (now 3-4 days and still ongoing). Please assist me with what must I do to prove my account is clean so I may return to enjoying the game. I have always played fair, adhering to the guidelines provided by Activision, and have never engaged in hacking, cheating, or any activity that violates the game's terms of service.

The shadow ban has severely impacted my ability to fully enjoy and participate in the Call of Duty community. Not only has it limited my access to certain features, but it has also negatively affected my overall gaming experience. As an avid player, this situation has been incredibly frustrating, leaving me feeling alienated and unfairly treated.

I kindly request a thorough investigation into my account and the circumstances surrounding the shadow ban. I firmly believe that this ban has been mistakenly imposed and that there might have been an error or misunderstanding. I urge you to consider the following points:

Account History: I kindly ask you to review my extensive account history, including gameplay data, purchase records, and any relevant information that can confirm my legitimate participation in Call of Duty.

Fair Play: Throughout my gaming journey, I have consistently upheld fair play and have never resorted to cheating or engaging in unauthorized activities. I take great pride in my integrity as a player and have always pursued a level playing field.

Dedicated Support: As a loyal customer who has invested significant time and money in Activision's games, I'm hoping for a fair and timely resolution to this matter. I kindly request dedicated support throughout the investigation process and regular updates on the progress.

Transparency: I strongly urge Activision to enhance transparency in its communication regarding the shadow ban system. Clear guidelines should be provided to players, ensuring a better understanding of the consequences and the preventive measures necessary to avoid such situations in the future.

In accordance with Article 15 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I assert my right to access any and all data retained by you concerning my status as a player. This includes information related to the alleged cheating activities and the processing of my personal data within the game.

I kindly request you provide me with the specific data held, its purpose of processing, and whether it has been shared with any third parties. By examining this information, I aim to evaluate the evidence against me and ensure a fair assessment of my actions.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and kindly request a prompt response within the timelines specified by GDPR for providing access to personal data.

I sincerely hope that you will give my complaint the attention it deserves and rectify this issue promptly. I have always admired Activision as a company and firmly believe in its commitment to providing an enjoyable gaming experience for its players.

I look forward to a positive resolution to this matter and the reinstatement of my account to its rightful status.

Platform: Steam

Activision ID: Zesus Crust#9664961

steamID64: [protected]

Software I use that could possibly cause a false flag: Logitech G-HUB, my HUION H420 pen tablet's driver which I sometimes forget to close when i'm not using

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Zachary

I have frustratingly tried to no avail in the past month, and so far have received little response to my raising the issue of a false account perma ban that has out of nowhere been applied to my MW2 player account (no review - no temp). I know for a fact that an unauthorized access occurred on my Steam Account approximately 1 - 2 months ago after my Steam Guard was authenticator was bypassed. This intrusion eventually lead to activity taking place over weeks as well all prior to the release of a highly anticipated Season 3 of live content for the title. I acknowledge that per the teams and conditions of the security enforcement policy that I am responsible for what occurs on my account, but it feels horrifically unfair when what occurred was unauthorized and without my knowledge. Especially so after having invested 100$+ into the title and the countless CODs that I have enjoyed in years prior.

Whether or not the running background apps I had would contribute I would gladly share screenshots and all info of what I have on my laptop to identify the root cause of the issues that may potentially be , RGB software, Mouse related software, and other work related software that I may use to recognize that my ban was unjustified. This is especially pertinent as I believe this to have been a cause for false bans at the start of the game's life cycle as well (https://www.pcgamer.com/it-looks-like-call-of-dutys-anti-cheat-is-perma banning-innocent-players). I have attached screenshots of my running background apps and potential points that may have triggered the AC including a trainer for an old COD title as well as macro recorder that I had installed earlier that same day prior to the issue. I look forward to being in further contact and getting a response promptly.

Regards, Alexander Clément Activision ID - ReflexAlex#5791066

Since a few weeks, i get disconnected after getting 3 or 4 kills. After that i cant enter any games and when i do find a lobby its full of cheaters. This happened 3 times in 12 days.

When i check the ban appeal page, it says my account is under review. It got cleared in 3 days. Today i got the same exact issue. A team dropped on a loadout, i killed 2 of 3 people who were getting their loadout and boom, disconnected. Again my account is under review.

I've bought MW2 to play Warzone 2 at its fullest, also spent a lot of money on operators and blueprints but i can't play the game anymore.

Activision does not reply to mails and there is no way to contact them.

Fix this issue or refund me all my money i've invested in this game. This is insane!

Activision account: SLOOP#6568086

I am writing to appeal regarding a false ban imposed on my Activision account. Despite my continuous efforts to contact Activision support since the ban was enforced, I have received no response or assistance in resolving this matter. This lack of communication has left me frustrated and concerned about the status of my account.

To provide some context, I downloaded Warzone 2 a few days before November 20th and eagerly anticipated playing it for the first time. However, as mentioned in my previous messages, I was unexpectedly banned on November 20th, just as I was about to start my very first game. To make matters worse, this ban occurred without any valid reason or justification, as I had not even had the chance to play a single game of Warzone 2.

After the ban, I immediately reached out to Activision support in an attempt to appeal the decision and seek clarification on why I was banned. However, despite repeated attempts through various channels, including emails, support tickets, and online forms, I have not received a single response or acknowledgment from the support team. This lack of communication has left me feeling helpless and unsure of how to proceed.

I understand that support teams often face a high volume of inquiries, but the complete absence of any response is deeply concerning and does not reflect positively on Activision's commitment to customer support. As a dedicated player and a customer who has invested time and money into the Call of Duty franchise, I expected a more prompt and efficient resolution to this issue.

Given the widespread reports on Reddit and other major social media platforms about similar unjust bans and the potential compromise of my account due to suspicious login activity, as evidenced by the attached screenshot of my login history (I do not live anywhere near a place called "Pompano Beach"), I implore you to take immediate action. I kindly request that you thoroughly investigate my case, lift the false ban on my account, and restore my access to Warzone 2 as soon as possible.

I urge you to prioritize this matter and provide me with a response that acknowledges my appeal, outlines the steps being taken to investigate my case, and offers reassurance that the issue will be resolved. Your timely assistance in rectifying this situation will not only restore my faith in Activision but also demonstrate a commitment to providing a fair and secure gaming environment for all players.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and I sincerely hope to receive a prompt and satisfactory response from the Activision support team. I play on Windows 11 and my username is: Heisenberg#582903.

Dear ATVI and CoD Teams,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration regarding the recent shadow ban imposed on my Call of Duty account. As a dedicated and loyal player of Activision's games, especially Call of Duty, for a considerable period, I have invested significant time and financial resources into enjoying and supporting the game.

It is disheartening to discover that my account has been subjected to a shadow ban without any apparent reason or justification. This has occurred 3 times in the last year. The latest 2 were almost in succession; on 24/5 I was banned till 27/5, and banned again last night at my local time around 2 am 30/5. Please assist me with what must I do to prove my account is clean and get whitelisted to enjoy the game. I own shares of ATVI and have invested over $100 into this game title. I have always played fair, adhering to the guidelines provided by Activision, and have never engaged in hacking, cheating, or any activity that violates the game's terms of service.

The shadow ban has severely impacted my ability to fully enjoy and participate in the Call of Duty community. Not only has it limited my access to certain features, but it has also negatively affected my overall gaming experience. As an avid player, this situation has been incredibly frustrating, leaving me feeling alienated and unfairly treated.

I kindly request a thorough investigation into my account and the circumstances surrounding the shadow ban. I firmly believe that this ban has been mistakenly imposed and that there might have been an error or misunderstanding. I urge you to consider the following points:

Account History: I kindly ask you to review my extensive account history, including gameplay data, purchase records, and any relevant information that can confirm my legitimate participation in Call of Duty.

Fair Play: Throughout my gaming journey, I have consistently upheld fair play and have never resorted to cheating or engaging in unauthorized activities. I take great pride in my integrity as a player and have always pursued a level playing field.

Dedicated Support: As a loyal customer who has invested significant time and money in Activision's games, I'm hoping for a fair and timely resolution to this matter. I kindly request dedicated support throughout the investigation process and regular updates on the progress.

Transparency: I strongly urge Activision to enhance transparency in its communication regarding the shadow ban system. Clear guidelines should be provided to players, ensuring a better understanding of the consequences and the preventive measures necessary to avoid such situations in the future.

In accordance with Article 15 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I assert my right to access any and all data retained by you concerning my status as a player. This includes information related to the alleged cheating activities and the processing of my personal data within the game.

I kindly request you provide me with the specific data held, its purpose of processing, and whether it has been shared with any third parties. By examining this information, I aim to evaluate the evidence against me and ensure a fair assessment of my actions.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and kindly request a prompt response within the timelines specified by GDPR for providing access to personal data.

I sincerely hope that you will give my complaint the attention it deserves and rectify this issue promptly. I have always admired Activision as a company and firmly believe in its commitment to providing an enjoyable gaming experience for its players.

I look forward to a positive resolution to this matter and the reinstatement of my account to its rightful status. If you require any additional information or evidence, please do not hesitate to contact me at the provided email address or phone number.

Atvi ID: MILES DAWIS#8468764

Platform: BattleNet (ID: gramorie108#3592)

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Aaron Lee

To whom it may concern,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request a thorough review of my MW2 account. Recently, I have encountered persistent issues with the report system, resulting in recurring shadow bans. Despite the temporary bans being lifted, my account consistently comes under review shortly after playing a few games, primarily due to the frequency of reports lodged against me.

Regrettably, this marks the eleventh instance where I have faced penalties on my account, and I believe it is essential to investigate the matter further. As a player, I am entitled to a comprehensive understanding of the situation surrounding my account, in accordance with Article 15 of the GDPR regulations.

I kindly request your prompt attention to this matter, as resolving this ongoing predicament would greatly contribute to my overall gaming experience. Your assistance and cooperation in addressing this issue would be highly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

PantyPirate#4832513