Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues
Activision's recent promotional tweet for a new Squid Game-themed store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. The tweet, viewed over 2 million times, highlights Activision's apparent failure to address widespread game-breaking issues plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6.
The outrage stems from the persistent problems affecting both titles, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, debilitating server issues, and other significant gameplay disruptions. This promotional focus, critics argue, demonstrates a blatant disregard for player concerns. Prominent Call of Duty players, such as Scump, have even voiced their opinion that the franchise is currently in its worst state ever.
The January 8th tweet, promoting a VIP-themed bundle from the ongoing Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration, was met with immediate and widespread condemnation. Players flooded the comments section, echoing sentiments expressed by prominent figures like FaZe Swagg ("read the room") and CharlieIntel, who highlighted the broken state of Ranked Play. Many players, such as Twitter user Taeskii, are boycotting in-game purchases until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.
This controversy coincides with a sharp decline in Call of Duty's player base on Steam. Since the October 25, 2024 release of Black Ops 6, over 47% of Steam players have abandoned the game, likely due to the persistent hacking and server problems. While data for other platforms (PlayStation and Xbox) is unavailable, the Steam statistics strongly suggest a broader player exodus. The overwhelmingly negative response underscores the growing frustration within the community and raises serious questions about Activision's priorities.
