Black Ops II on PC: no mod support, private server rentals

In news that will doubtless come as a huge shock (but probably not) to PC gamers, Treyarch has confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops II won’t support mods or privately rented servers.

OH NO YOU DI’N’T.

In a blog post about security and multiplayer matchmaking, the developer talked up its new “proprietary server-side anti-cheat technology” that will run in conjunction with Steam’s own VAC to ensure there’s no funny business. Or any fun whatsoever, maybe.

“We have also improved our player reporting system to make it the most effective way that you can help us catch cheaters. And starting on launch day we will have a full-time dedicated PC anti-cheat team focused solely on detecting and banning cheaters. We have a zero tolerance policy on cheating. Cheaters bans are permanent,” warns the update.

Although the game will use regular dedicated servers, these will be provided exclusively by Treyarch and Activision “running in one of our high bandwidth datacenters around the globe”, and the server files will not be released “to protect the game from hacking and cheating and ensure the ranking and progression system integrity”.

What’s that? Oh, it’s just the sound of several thousand pre-orders being cancelled. Betrayal, Bobby Kotick, PC gaming is dead, etc.