Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s beta is just days away, with early access starting on October 2 and general access on October 5. Leading up to its official launch on November 14, players are informed about a new requirement: Secure Boot.

“On PC, the Black Ops 7 Beta will require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot,” according to an official blog post. We’re building toward the most advanced and robust anti-cheat protections players will find in gaming.

Secure Boot is a UEFI firmware that prevents unauthorized software during startup, ensuring that only verified programs are run. Publishers like EA and Activision utilize it as part of their anti-cheat measures, particularly for games like Battlefield 6.

While Secure Boot may be beneficial for stopping cheats, it can lead to challenges for players who lack compatible hardware or the experience to enable it. This new requirement brings about concerns, particularly for those using older PCs.

As developers commit to stringent anti-cheat measures aimed at protecting players, the gaming community’s acceptance of these advancements will be crucial in shaping the future of competitive play.