Call of Duty Outrage: Hacking Woes Continue

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 within the Call of Duty community. A tweet announcing a Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration 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 issues, and other game-breaking bugs. This, coupled with Activision's continued focus on promoting in-game purchases rather than addressing these critical flaws, has pushed many players to the breaking point.

The backlash follows a sharp decline in player numbers. Since Black Ops 6's October 2024 release, Steam player counts have plummeted, with over 47% of the initial player base abandoning the game. While data for PlayStation and Xbox is unavailable, the Steam numbers strongly suggest widespread dissatisfaction, likely attributed to the prevalence of hackers and unreliable servers. Even prominent professional players like Scump have publicly criticized the game's current state, calling it the worst the franchise has ever been.

Activision's Controversial Tweet

The January 8th tweet promoting a new Squid Game-themed bundle, featuring "The VIPs," backfired spectacularly. Players flooded the comments section, echoing sentiments expressed by prominent figures like FaZe Swagg ("read the room") and CharlieIntel ("ranked play is broken"). Many, like Twitter user Taeskii, vowed to boycott store bundles until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.

The overwhelming negative reaction highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The company's prioritization of revenue generation through store bundles over resolving critical gameplay issues is seen by many as a sign of disregard for player experience, fueling player frustration and contributing to the game's declining popularity.