Call of Duty Sparks Outrage with Tweet Amidst Hacking Concerns

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

Activision's recent promotion of a new store bundle amidst widespread game issues has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. A tweet announcing a Squid Game-themed bundle garnered over 2 million views and thousands of angry responses, accusing Activision of being tone-deaf to player concerns.

Both Warzone and Black Ops 6 are plagued by significant problems, including rampant cheating in ranked play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs. Professional players, such as Scump, have publicly stated that the franchise is in its worst state ever. This confluence of issues, coupled with Activision's continued focus on monetization through store bundles, has pushed many players to the brink.

The controversy centers on a January 8th tweet promoting a new "VIPs" bundle from the Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration. Instead of addressing the critical in-game problems, Activision chose to highlight this new purchase opportunity, leading to widespread accusations of prioritizing profit over player experience.

Prominent figures within the Call of Duty community, including FaZe Swagg and CharlieIntel, voiced their frustration. Swagg urged Activision to "read the room," while CharlieIntel highlighted the severe limitations imposed on ranked play due to cheating, contrasting this with the promotion of new bundles. Many players, like Taeskii, are boycotting store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are improved.

The negative response extends beyond online criticism. Steam player counts for Black Ops 6 have plummeted since its October 25, 2024 release, with over 47% of players abandoning the game. While data for other platforms is unavailable, the Steam statistics strongly suggest a significant player exodus, likely attributed to the unresolved hacking and server issues. The situation paints a bleak picture for Call of Duty, raising serious questions about the franchise's future.