Outcry Over Call of Duty Tweet Amidst Hacking Concerns

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

Activision's recent promotion of a new Squid Game-themed store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. The tweet, boasting over 2 million views and countless angry replies, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The company's focus on new in-game purchases is seen as tone-deaf, given the numerous unresolved issues plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6.

Since the October 25, 2024 launch of Black Ops 6, the game has experienced a significant downturn. While initially lauded by critics and players, widespread problems, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs, have soured the experience. Even prominent professional players like Scump have voiced their concerns, stating the franchise is in its worst state ever.

The January 8th tweet promoting the Squid Game VIP bundle, instead of addressing these critical issues, prompted widespread accusations of Activision failing to "read the room." Influential figures like FaZe Swagg and CharlieIntel joined the chorus of discontent, highlighting the severity of the cheating problem and the irony of prioritizing new store content over fixing broken gameplay. Player Taeskii voiced a common sentiment, vowing to boycott future purchases until the anti-cheat measures are improved.

This frustration is further underscored by a dramatic drop in Black Ops 6 players on Steam. Since launch, over 47% of the initial player base has abandoned the game, a decline likely attributed to the ongoing technical problems and pervasive cheating. While data for other platforms (PlayStation and Xbox) is unavailable, the Steam numbers suggest a significant player exodus. The community's anger underscores the urgent need for Activision to address these core gameplay issues before the franchise suffers further damage.