Modern Warfare 4: Activision Removes Itaewon Footage from Intro

Following massive criticism, Activision is reversing course: Real footage of the Itaewon Halloween disaster will be removed from the opening cinematic of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. According to reports, the studio has apologized to the bereaved families. However, the change will only come with an update on November 12.

What is the Controversy About?

The intro of Modern Warfare 4 depicts the prelude to a fictional North Korean invasion of South Korea. It features footage of rescue efforts during the crowd crush in Seoul, which occurred in the Itaewon district in October 2022. At the time, approximately 160 people died, and nearly 200 more were injured. The footage in the game is overlaid with filters and effects, but remains recognizable.

According to BBC and IGN, relatives of the victims reacted with outrage. A statement said it was "inherently highly inappropriate and senseless" to use such an event as material for an entertainment game. With "a minimum of decency and empathy," the developer "must act without delay."

How Did Activision React?

Initially, the publisher defended itself, stating that real news footage was only used to build the fictional narrative without "referencing or trivializing" the tragedy. The company initially did not comply with the demand for removal. Call of Duty's Head of Marketing, Tyler Bahl, told the BBC that people needed to understand it was entertainment.

Meanwhile, the stance has changed. According to PC Gamer and a report from the Korea Herald, Activision speaks of "deepest condolences and sincere apologies" to families, victims, and all those affected by the incident. The video will be cut from the opening sequence via an update on November 12.

What Does This Mean for Players?

Until the update, the intro remains unchanged. Players who start the campaign before then will still see the criticized scenes. Afterward, Infinity Ward will replace the footage – what exactly will take its place is not yet known. In terms of gameplay, nothing changes; it's only about the opening sequence.

Our Take on This

Call of Duty has often used real conflicts as a backdrop, but real footage of a recent disaster with victims is in a different league. We believe Activision removing the scene is the right decision – it's just a shame that it took a public wave of criticism. Otherwise, the shooter is doing well: at launch, it received the best Metacritic score in 15 years. And in its review, Eurogamer even called Call of Duty its "savior". You can find the series on the official Call of Duty website.

Source: PC Gamer, IGN

Is the removal the right decision for you – or should Activision not have built the intro this way in the first place? Discuss with us in the comments!