Publisher Activision has responded to criticism over using a devastating tragedy in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, saying that the incident will be removed from the military shooter in a November 12 update.
The Seoul Halloween crowd crush occurred in October 2022 in Itaewon. Approximately 100,000 people gathered in a narrow alleyway in Seoul, resulting in 160 casualties as people were suffocated. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the tragedy, with bereaved families and community organizers gathering to remember the lives that were lost.
Modern Warfare 4 hit consoles and PC on October 23, and not long after its release, the game drew criticism from bereaved Korean families. In the opening cutscene to the game’s campaign–which focuses on a fictional war between North and South Korea–Modern Warfare 4 depicts a chaotic scene where one person performs CPR on a downed individual, while bodies are either laid out on the streets or carried away on stretchers. Given the game’s setting and the events on screen, the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Citizens’ Countermeasures Meeting–two organizations formed after the 2022 tragedy in Seoul–were “appalled” at the calamity’s inclusion and demanded that Activision remove it from the game.
“Using such an incident as material for a game intended for entertainment purposes is itself highly inappropriate and a senseless act,” the groups said, according to the BBC. “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.”
Activision has heard the call and plans to remove the depiction from Modern Warfare 4 when an update arrives on November 12. In responding to the criticism, Activision said it never intended to trivialize the disaster or make light of human suffering.
“In developing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, we approached the subject matter with care and respect. The game’s opening cinematic utilises some real-world news coverage to establish the game’s fictional narrative,” Activision said. “It is not intended to reference or trivialise the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form.”
