Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Sets New Security Standards with TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot

The next installment in Activision’s blockbuster franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, will break new ground—not just for its action-packed gameplay, but also as a technical milestone for PC gaming security. When Black Ops 7 launches later this year, it will become the first Call of Duty title to require both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled on all PCs. This move signals a significant shift in gaming hardware prerequisites, reflecting the growing alignment between next-generation PC games and the security standards initially championed by Windows 11 and modern enterprise computing.

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Background: How Security Became Central to PC Gaming​

The escalating sophistication of cheat software has challenged competitive online games for years. From aimbots to kernel-level hacks, bad actors have continually found new vulnerabilities, eroding the integrity of multiplayer experiences and frustrating legitimate players. Across the industry, the arms race between cheat developers and anti-cheat teams has spurred constant innovation.
Microsoft’s introduction of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot as core requirements for Windows 11 in 2021 marked a new era of hardware-based security for the PC ecosystem. These technologies, largely invisible to most consumers, are designed to ensure a secure foundation for the operating system and applications by verifying system integrity at the hardware and boot levels.
Major publishers have watched closely as the Windows security model evolved. Now, Activision’s bold decision to enforce these requirements is poised to become a bellwether for the future of PC game development.

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Understanding TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot​

TPM 2.0: Root-of-Trust Security on the Motherboard​

The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is a physical or firmware-based crypto-processor integrated on most modern motherboards. It stores cryptographic keys and performs operations—such as attestation and secure boot measurement—that have become pillars of modern PC security. Key benefits of TPM 2.0 include:

• Hardware-based isolation of security keys
• Secure generation and storage of cryptographic material
• Trusted attestation of system state
• Protection against firmware-level and low-level attacks

Since its mandate for Windows 11, TPM 2.0 has become ubiquitous among recently built systems, while older computers sometimes require manual enabling in BIOS or a hardware add-on module.

Secure Boot: Defending the Boot Process​

Secure Boot is a UEFI specification that prevents untrusted or unsigned code from running at system startup. By validating the digital signatures of each boot component, Secure Boot thwarts rootkits, bootkits, and other low-level exploits that can compromise a machine before an operating system or anti-cheat software even starts. For high-stakes multiplayer games, this translates to a critical layer of assurance that no illicit code can be injected at the earliest phase of system operation.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Changing the PC Security Landscape​

The New Standard for Fair Play​

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s mandatory TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements reflect years of escalating security challenges endemic to online shooters. Activision has publicly stated that the decision is rooted in two central aims:

• Combating sophisticated cheating: Kernel-level cheats and firmware-rooted exploits have surged, often slipping past conventional software-based anti-cheat systems. By leveraging TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, Black Ops 7 aims to ensure the system’s foundation is uncompromised from boot through gameplay.
• Aligning with the Windows platform future: With Windows 11 nearing dominance and official support for Windows 10 expiring soon, it makes sense for leading AAA games to align with the latest, safest OS standards. Black Ops 7’s requirements all but formalize this transition, signaling other developers to follow suit.

Why Now? The Security and Platform Picture​

Several converging factors make this the right moment for such a change:

• Windows 11 adoption is growing rapidly, and most gaming PCs released since 2021 support both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 natively.
• Anti-cheat software must operate at the lowest possible level to work effectively against modern threats, making integration with boot-time security a logical progression.
• The upcoming deprecation of Windows 10 lowers the risk of alienating a significant portion of the player base.
• Other franchises are moving in a similar direction: Battlefield 6, for example, will also mandate Secure Boot, though not TPM 2.0—yet.

The implication is clear: a new baseline for PC gaming hardware is being set, one that is tougher, more secure, and closely intertwined with the latest Windows capabilities.

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The Benefits: What Players and Developers Stand to Gain​

Stronger Defense Against Cheating​

The most immediate benefit is the reinforcement of anti-cheat efforts. By ensuring only properly signed and verified code runs, Black Ops 7 is poised to neutralize:

• Boot-level hacks and unsigned kernel mode cheats
• Firmware manipulation aiming to repurpose hardware for illicit gain
• Circumvention of anti-cheat drivers and rootkits

These measures do not guarantee a cheat-free environment, but they raise the bar for attackers dramatically, moving the burden from software whack-a-mole to hardware-rooted fortification.

Foundation for Ongoing Security Updates​

Requiring TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot is not a one-off move; it futureproofs the security model for:

• Integration with evolving anti-cheat platforms like RICOCHET
• Rolling out updates that may depend on low-level system trust
• Enabling richer platform services requiring high assurance of system state (e.g., secure leaderboards, cryptographically-protected player data)

Simplified Support and Platform Alignment​

For Activision and other developers, supporting a player base standardized around modern hardware and security practices reduces compatibility headaches. It also enables aggressive adoption of new Windows features and APIs without the need to constantly accommodate legacy platforms.

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The Risks and Controversies​

Excluding Older Hardware​

One of the most prominent concerns is that thousands of PC gamers with older but still-capable systems may find themselves locked out of Black Ops 7 at launch. While TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support is standard on most PCs from the last five years, some DIY builds, upgraded systems, and budget motherboards may lack these features or have them disabled in firmware.
Modders, emulation enthusiasts, and users running non-standard or hyper-customized Windows installations also risk being left behind.

The Ongoing War on Cheats: Can Hardware Requirements Solve Everything?​

While hardware-based security raises the barrier to entry considerably, determined foes are rarely deterred for long. History shows that any widely adopted security technology eventually becomes a target for sophisticated attackers who may seek to crack, bypass, or subvert hardware mechanisms. The game of cat and mouse is far from over, though TPM and Secure Boot unquestionably up the stakes.

Privacy and Control Concerns​

Whenever deeper system validation and attestation become mandatory for a game, privacy advocates and power users raise legitimate questions about:

• What telemetry and system information are being read or transmitted?
• Could TPM or boot attestation pave the way for stricter DRM or platform lock-in?
• Are open-source and alternative operating systems being sidelined unintentionally (or intentionally)?

So far, Activision has pledged to use these technologies solely for integrity and anti-cheat purposes. Still, the debate around user choice, privacy, and control continues as security hardens.

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How to Check and Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot​

Verifying Your PC Hardware Readiness​

For players eager to jump into Black Ops 7 at launch, preemptively confirming that their system is “game-ready” is vital. Here’s a quick self-check:

• TPM 2.0
• Press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and hit Enter.
• The TPM Management window should report “TPM is ready for use” with specification version 2.0.
• If not present, check BIOS/UEFI firmware for a TPM option under security settings, sometimes labeled as "PTT" (Intel) or "fTPM" (AMD).
• Secure Boot
• Open msinfo32 (System Information) from the Start menu.
• Look for “Secure Boot State”; it should say “On.”
• If "Off," reboot into BIOS/UEFI settings and enable Secure Boot, typically found in the Boot or Security tab.

Systems purchased in the Windows 11 era should be compliant out of the box, but custom or upgraded rigs may require manual enablement.

Dealing with Compatibility Roadblocks​

Some users may encounter roadblocks, such as missing BIOS options, outdated firmware, or unsupported hardware. Solutions can include:

• Updating the motherboard BIOS/UEFI
• Consulting manufacturer documentation for TPM add-on modules (rarely needed today)
• Verifying secure boot keys are installed and enabled after a system upgrade

In rare cases, those with legacy hardware may be out of luck—an outcome that may prompt upgrade decisions for hardcore fans.

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Implications: The Future of PC Gaming Requirements​

Precedent for Other Franchises​

With both Call of Duty and Battlefield pushing secure boot prerequisites, this is unlikely to be a one-off. Other top-tier franchises are expected to follow suit, especially as older Windows OS versions fade from support. The days of unlimited backward compatibility and quirk-filled legacy support are numbered.

Developer Opportunities and Challenges​

For developers, this new baseline paves the way for:

• More advanced, hardware-integrated anti-cheat engines
• Seamless integration with zero-trust platforms and richer API ecosystems
• Potential to leverage hardware security for digital rights management, unique in-game economies, or credentials

Yet, developers must weigh these benefits against:

• The need for clear communication, support, and transparency with affected players
• The risk of reduced accessibility and inclusivity for enthusiasts on non-mainstream platforms
• Potential backlash if hardware-level requirements are used (or perceived to be used) for anti-consumer purposes

Microsoft's Security Vision Takes Center Stage​

If this trend continues, Microsoft’s foresight in establishing TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot as prerequisites for modern computing will be vindicated. The entire PC gaming ecosystem may enjoy greater stability, fewer blights from cheating, and a swifter, more secure pace of innovation.

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Conclusion: A Bold But Inevitable Leap​

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's requirement of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot for all PC players signals a transformative moment for both the franchise and the wider gaming industry. While some players may bristle at hardware mandates and the fading support for older systems, the potential rewards—cheat-resistant multiplayer, standardized security, and tighter platform integration—cannot be denied.
This move, once seen as controversial, now appears inevitable as PC gaming modernizes in step with the radically more secure foundations set by Windows 11 and next-generation hardware. Gamers eager for the fairest and most stable experience will likely find the effort to meet these new requirements worthwhile, while the industry at large watches closely to see how this bold leap will shape the boundaries of play for years to come.

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Source: OC3D COD: Black Ops 7 will require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC - OC3D