Call of Duty's Tweet Fuels Backlash Over Unresolved Hacking

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, boasting over 2 million views and thousands of angry responses, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The outrage stems from Activision's perceived prioritization of profit over addressing persistent and game-breaking issues plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6.

Since the October 25, 2024 launch of Black Ops 6, the game's initial positive reception has soured. Prominent players, including Scump, have openly declared the franchise's current state as its worst ever. This sentiment is fueled by widespread reports of rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server problems, and other significant gameplay flaws.

The Controversial Tweet

The January 8th tweet promoting the new Squid Game bundle was ill-timed, to say the least. Fans flooded the comments section, accusing Activision of being tone-deaf and failing to "read the room." Content creators like FaZe Swagg echoed this sentiment, while CharlieIntel highlighted the severity of the Ranked Play issues. Many players, such as Taeskii, vowed to boycott future store bundles until the game's anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.

Player Exodus on Steam

The player backlash extends beyond online criticism. Steam data reveals a significant drop in Black Ops 6's player count since its release, with over 47% of players abandoning the game. While platform-specific player numbers for PlayStation and Xbox are unavailable, the Steam data strongly suggests widespread dissatisfaction, likely stemming from the persistent hacking and server issues. The future of Call of Duty hinges on Activision's response to these concerns.