If you’ve recently received a ban in Call of Duty, you’re likely feeling frustrated—especially if you’re confident that you haven’t cheated. You’re not alone. Many players across online gaming communities frequently report being banned for seemingly no reason. Some even speculate that bans occur due to mass reports from other cheaters using software to flag innocent players. But what’s really happening behind the scenes?
Understanding the Ban Process
Bans in Call of Duty typically follow a pattern. They don’t usually happen outright but instead escalate gradually:
Shadow Ban: Initially, you may find yourself unable to matchmake in normal games. This temporary restriction might lift after a while, allowing you to play again.
Repeated Shadow Bans: If you’re cleared from a shadow ban but then get flagged again, it may indicate an issue with your gameplay or system settings.
Permanent Ban: If flagged multiple times, your account may eventually be permanently banned, often citing Section 3 of the license agreement, which pertains to cheating software.
While some believe that human reviewers at Activision manually overturn bans, the reality is that modern anti-cheat systems rely heavily on AI-driven algorithms rather than human intervention. This means that once you’re flagged, your chances of being flagged again remain high—even if you’ve been previously cleared.
The DLSS Controversy
One of the biggest revelations in the Call of Duty community is that certain bans have been linked to the use of Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). While DLSS is a well-marketed feature from Nvidia, not every game officially supports it. In Black Ops 6, for instance, the Nvidia app explicitly states that DLSS is not supported.
However, some players—believing they know better—use Nvidia Profile Inspector to forcibly enable DLSS in games where it’s not officially allowed. This is where the trouble begins. One particular case involved a player who enabled DLSS in Black Ops 6 using Nvidia Profile Inspector. Shortly after, they received a shadow ban.
Thinking this was an isolated incident, they then attempted to play Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War with DLSS force-enabled using the same method. The result? Another shadow ban. Eventually, after multiple shadow bans across different Call of Duty titles, the player’s account was permanently banned.
Why Does Call of Duty Consider DLSS a Cheat?
While DLSS itself is not a cheat, the Call of Duty anti-cheat system likely views any unauthorized modifications as potential cheating software. This is not unprecedented. In the past, similar visual enhancement tools, such as Nvidia Freestyle and ReShade, were also flagged. Cheaters have historically manipulated these tools to gain unfair advantages, such as making enemies more visible or simulating wall hacks.
As a result, game developers have cracked down on unauthorized visual modifications. Even Nvidia eventually restricted Freestyle to only work with developer-approved titles. This means that using any third-party software to modify visuals—whether it’s DLSS, Freestyle, or ReShade—puts you at risk of being banned.
The Bigger Picture: Hardware vs. Game Restrictions
This situation raises a broader question: If players are investing in expensive GPUs with cutting-edge features, why are those very features being disabled by game developers? While this is a separate debate, it highlights the growing tension between hardware capabilities and software restrictions in modern gaming.
Final Thoughts: Play It Safe
If you’ve been banned and believe it was unjust, consider whether you’ve used any third-party tools—even for legitimate purposes—that modify game visuals. Call of Duty’s anti-cheat system treats any unauthorized enhancements as potential exploits, even if your intent was purely aesthetic.
To avoid getting permanently banned, follow these guidelines:
Only use in-game settings for visual enhancements.
Avoid using third-party tools like Nvidia Profile Inspector to enable features not officially supported.
Stay informed about what the anti-cheat system considers bannable offenses.
At the end of the day, Call of Duty has a strict stance on unauthorized modifications. If you value your account, it’s best to play by their rules—even if you disagree with them.