Activision to remove Itaewon tragedy footage from Modern Warfare 4

Activision has announced it will remove real-life news footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush from the opening sequence of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The footage, which depicted emergency responders and CPR attempts during the Halloween disaster in Seoul, was used to depict a fictional North Korean invasion of South Korea.

The decision follows intense backlash from victims’ families and South Korean officials. The families described the use of the footage as “highly inappropriate and senseless,” noting that the event caused lasting trauma for survivors and witnesses. South Korean Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung characterized the inclusion of the footage as a violation of human decency.

In a statement, Activision apologized to the bereaved and those affected, stating that it was never their intention to trivialize the tragedy. The company described the game as a work of fiction intended to provide a realistic experience. The footage is scheduled to be removed via a game update on November 12.