Call of Duty Tweet Ignites Fury Amidst Hacking Concerns

Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues

Activision's recent promotion of 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 countless angry replies, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The outrage stems from the company's perceived prioritization of in-game purchases over addressing critical, ongoing issues plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6.

Both titles are currently grappling with significant problems, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs. This has led to a sharp decline in players, with Steam statistics revealing a more than 47% drop in Black Ops 6's player count since its October 2024 launch. Prominent players, such as Scump, have even publicly stated that the franchise is in its worst state ever.

The January 8th tweet promoting the VIP bundle, part of the ongoing Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration, was the final straw for many. Players flooded the comments section, echoing sentiments like "read the room" and expressing frustration at the focus on monetization while core gameplay remains compromised. Content creators like FaZe Swagg joined the chorus of discontent, while others, such as Taeskii, vowed to boycott store bundles until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved. The sentiment is clear: many players are disillusioned and some are abandoning the game entirely. While Steam data reflects a significant player exodus, the extent of the decline on other platforms remains unknown. The situation underscores a growing concern about the balance between monetization and maintaining a positive player experience in the Call of Duty franchise.