Activision Claims $8.5 Billion Cheating Market Amid Crackdown

Activision claims the global commercial ecosystem for video game cheating generates roughly $8.5 billion annually, detailing a series of enforcement actions against cheat sellers as it prepares to launch a new major title. The figure, which includes revenue from cheat subscriptions, account sales, boosting services, and hardware ID spoofing tools, was presented by the company's Team RICOCHET anti-cheat unit in a blog post published on September 20, 2026. The company stated that cheat subscriptions alone, tracked across 15 games, account for approximately $3.5 billion of the total. Activision described cheat sellers as operating a global network and framed the issue as a significant industry. The $8.5 billion estimate is Activision's own figure, citing analysis from threat intelligence platform Intorqa, and has not been independently audited. Alongside the market estimate, Activision reported specific enforcement outcomes. The company said Team RICOCHET has disrupted over 375 reseller operations, issued more than 80 cease-and-desist demands, and helped shut down 31 primary cheat vendors.