Hacking Scandal Rocks Call of Duty

Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues

Activision's recent promotion of a new in-game store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. The tweet, boasting over 2 million views and thousands of angry replies, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The company's focus on new store items, while ignoring persistent and game-breaking issues in both Warzone and Black Ops 6, has pushed many players to the breaking point.

The controversy comes amidst a wave of significant problems plaguing the franchise. Since the October 25, 2024 release of Black Ops 6, which initially received positive reviews, the game's reputation has taken a sharp downturn. Even professional players like Scump have publicly stated that the series is in its worst state ever. The outcry is fueled by widespread reports of rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other critical gameplay flaws.

Activision's Tone-Deaf Tweet

The January 8th tweet promoting a new Squid Game-themed bundle, part of the ongoing Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration, proved to be a particularly ill-timed marketing effort. The timing, coinciding with numerous unresolved technical issues, prompted widespread accusations of Activision being "out of touch."

The response was swift and scathing. Influential figures like FaZe Swagg urged Activision to address the community's concerns, while news outlets like CharlieIntel highlighted the severity of the Ranked Play problems. Many players, echoing sentiments expressed by Taeskii on Twitter, vowed to boycott future store purchases until the game's anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.

Player Exodus on Steam

The negative sentiment extends beyond angry tweets. The declining player count on Steam is a stark indicator of player dissatisfaction. Since Black Ops 6's launch, Steam player numbers have plummeted by over 47%, strongly suggesting that many players are abandoning the game due to the persistent issues. While data for other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox is unavailable, the Steam statistics paint a concerning picture of the game's current state.