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Activision Call of Duty Itaewon footage controversy

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2026-10-31 03:05 UTC → 2026-11-02 15:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Activision faced significant backlash in South Korea following the release of ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’. Bereaved families of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush and various civic groups demanded the removal of approximately three seconds of real news broadcast footage used in the game’s opening cinematic. The footage, which depicted paramedics performing CPR and scenes of chaos, was used to illustrate civilian casualties during a fictional North Korean invasion. Critics, including the 10/29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association, described the use of the imagery for entertainment as ‘insensate’ and ‘inappropriate’. South Korean Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung further characterized the inclusion of the footage as a violation of human decency. While Activision initially stated there was ‘absolutely no intention of mentioning or treating lightly any actual tragic events’, the company subsequently issued a public apology. Activision has pledged to release a software update to remove the footage from the game campaign. Following criticism from the Korea Game Users Association, which demanded an explanation and a software update, Activision confirmed the removal is scheduled via a game update on November 12. The controversy centers on the use of real material from the October 29, 2022, disaster, which resulted in 159 deaths and 196 injuries. In its formal ~~apology,~~ apology. Activision expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families, asserting there was no intention to trivialize or minimize the real-world tragedy. The company confirmed that the offending video material will be completely removed via a scheduled game update on November 12.

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