Call of Duty: Backlash Over Tweet Amidst Hacking Problems

Activision's recent Call of Duty promotional tweet ignites player fury. The tweet, promoting a new Squid Game-themed store bundle, has garnered over 2 million views and a torrent of negative responses. This backlash comes amidst widespread complaints about significant issues plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play and persistent server problems.

The controversy highlights a disconnect between Activision's marketing efforts and the community's concerns. While the publisher focuses on promoting new in-game purchases, players are demanding action on game-breaking bugs and the pervasive cheating problem. Prominent players, such as Scump, have publicly criticized the current state of the franchise, describing it as its worst ever.

The January 8th tweet, intended to showcase the Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration, backfired spectacularly. Fans accused Activision of being tone-deaf, prioritizing revenue over addressing critical gameplay issues. Content creators like FaZe Swagg echoed this sentiment, urging Activision to "read the room." CharlieIntel highlighted the broken Ranked Play mode, emphasizing the irony of prioritizing bundles over fixing the game. Player Taeskii voiced a common sentiment, pledging a boycott of store bundles until the anti-cheat measures are improved.

This dissatisfaction is reflected in a dramatic drop in Black Ops 6's Steam player count. Since its October 2024 launch, over 47% of players have abandoned the game on this platform, a decline likely attributed to the ongoing technical issues and cheating. While data for other platforms (PlayStation and Xbox) is unavailable, the Steam statistics suggest a significant player exodus. The situation underscores a growing crisis for the Call of Duty franchise, raising serious questions about Activision's priorities and its ability to retain its player base.