“A Hacker in Every Lobby”: Former Pro Player Slams the Surge of Cheating in Call of Duty
Esport legend Matthew Haag, better known as Nadeshot, just set social media on fire with a statement that’s both passionate and scathing: Call of Duty has never been in worse shape.
A former professional Call of Duty player and now the head of the 100 Thieves organization, Nadeshot is a major figure in the world of Activision’s flagship FPS. In a now-viral video, he voices his frustration with the game’s current state, calling out rampant cheating and the developers’ apparent lack of action. For him, Call of Duty is going through one of its darkest times.
Image credit: Activision
A passionate cry for help
It was after an eight-hour marathon stream that Nadeshot finally snapped. What began as a regular session on Black Ops 6 quickly turned into a nightmare: hackers in every single match, a relentless wave of virtual lawlessness, and a deep, visible frustration.
In his video message, he pulls no punches:
- “Call of Duty has never been worse”
- “There was a hacker in almost every lobby we played today”
- “Eight straight hours of lobbies we were hacked on”
And yet, despite the disastrous experience, he still confesses his love for the franchise. A love that’s being sorely tested—yet speaks to the deep connection an entire generation of gamers has with Call of Duty.
We gotta talk @CallofDuty pic.twitter.com/Y86K7oiWI8
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) June 3, 2025
Ranked mode on the brink
Nadeshot doesn’t just point out the game’s flaws—he targets a major pain point: the ranked mode in Black Ops 6. According to him, the ranking system is broken, poorly designed, and fundamentally unfair. Coming from a former pro and CEO of 100 Thieves, those words carry serious weight.
This dysfunction strikes at the heart of competitive play:
- Ranked matches ruined by widespread cheating
- Loss of meaning in the ranking system, a cornerstone of competitive gaming
- Lack of clear enforcement or penalties against cheaters
All of this is pushing away the most dedicated players—and tarnishing the reputation of a franchise that once ruled the competitive multiplayer scene.
This isn’t the first time Nadeshot has fired shots at Activision. Back in December, he already criticized the anti-cheat team’s inefficiency and the widespread exploits in the game. In his eyes, things have only gotten worse. His assessment is simple: the longer this goes on, the more cheaters take control. And against this rising tide, the developers seem powerless—or worse, inactive.
Is the community on the verge of a break-up?
While Call of Duty remains one of the most-played games in the world, Nadeshot’s outburst raises a critical question: how much longer will players stick around? The emotional connection is real, but fatigue is setting in.
If the franchise is to reclaim its former glory, Activision needs to act—decisively and transparently. Because when even its most loyal ambassadors begin to lose faith, the entire community starts to waver. And the issue extends beyond Call of Duty. Not long ago, Minh Le, co-creator of Counter-Strike, also sounded the alarm: according to him, cheating affects 40 to 50% of online matches in some competitive games. A chilling reality that signals a deep crisis in online multiplayer—where authentic gameplay is becoming increasingly rare.
