Activision has committed to removing real news footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following an intense public backlash from bereaved families and civic groups in South Korea.
The first-person shooter, developed by U.S.-based studio Infinity Ward and published by Activision, launched globally on October 23. In its opening cinematic sequence, the campaign depicts a fictional North Korean invasion of South Korea using archival news coverage to establish its narrative backdrop. Players quickly discovered that the montage included about three seconds of real broadcast footage from the October 29, 2022 disaster, showing emergency responders performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and victims laid out in the street.
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Bereaved Families and Civic Associations Demand Immediate Removal
The inclusion of the tragedy touched a raw nerve in South Korea as the country approached the fourth anniversary of the crowd crush. The disaster in an alleyway of Seoul’s Itaewon nightlife district claimed 159 lives during Halloween celebrations, with two additional victims later recognized after dying from trauma.
Organizations representing the victims—including the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Citizens’ Countermeasures Meeting—released a joint statement expressing shock that footage of citizens performing desperate rescue efforts had been repurposed for entertainment.
Using such an incident as material for a game intended for entertainment purposes is itself highly inappropriate and a senseless act. The Itaewon tragedy was a tragic disaster that produced hundreds of casualties, and citizens who participated in the rescue efforts or witnessed the event at the time continue to suffer from trauma. If the game developer has even a minimum level of courtesy and empathy toward the victims, they should promptly take corrective measures.
10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and Citizens’ Countermeasures Meeting, via BBC and Yahoo
Cho In Young, co-director of the Joint Action for the October 29 Itaewon Disaster, stated that the studio had failed to consider the dignity of the victims or the ongoing anguish of survivors and families. Alongside these protests, the Korea Game Users Association called for a clear explanation and an apology while cautioning that the dispute should not trigger unjustified demands for censorship against the gaming industry itself.
Activision Apologizes and Sets a November Update for the Patch
Following days of public criticism, Activision issued a formal apology and confirmed that the disputed clips would be purged from the game entirely via a scheduled download. In statements provided to broadcasters and gaming outlets, the publisher maintained that the cinematic sequences were designed purely to support the fictional storyline.
In developing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, we approached the subject matter with care and respect. The game’s opening cinematic utilizes some real world news coverage to establish the game’s fictional narrative. It is not intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form.
Activision, via IGN
According to The Korea Herald, the publisher sent a message to Korean channel MBC stating that it offered its deepest condolences and sincere apologies to the bereaved families, victims, and anyone distressed by the inclusion. The corrective patch is scheduled for release on November 12.
Political Debate and Franchise Controversy Preceded the Footage Backlash
Even before players identified the disaster footage, the title had already become a lightning rod in South Korean domestic politics. Conservative politicians had urged President Lee Jae Myung to play the game to understand threats from Pyongyang, while other critics argued the title commercialized the trauma of war. The dispute also spilled into a parliamentary audit, where lawmakers debated the boundaries between constitutionally protected creative expression and harmful depiction.
The franchise is no stranger to provocative narrative choices. Previous entries, such as 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, drew worldwide scrutiny for the “No Russian” airport mission, and the 2019 series reboot faced debate over its fictionalized adaptation of the Highway of Death from the 1991 Gulf War.
Despite the intense local outcry, the title has continued to perform strongly on commercial metrics. The game secured top positions on Steam’s South Korea sales charts within days of launch.
Activision stated it used real news footage, including the Itaewon crowd crush, in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 without any intention of making light of a tragedy.The Korea Game Consumers Association demanded a clear explanation, an apology, and a video replacement to address…
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