Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Amidst Game-Breaking 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 thousands of angry replies, highlights a growing disconnect between the developer and its player base. Many feel Activision is tone-deaf, prioritizing revenue generation over addressing critical in-game problems plaguing both Warzone and Black Ops 6.
Both titles are currently grappling with significant issues, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs. Prominent Call of Duty players, such as Scump, have publicly voiced their concern, stating the franchise is in its worst state ever. This sentiment is echoed by the community's overwhelmingly negative response to the promotional tweet.
The controversy centers around Activision's decision to promote a new store bundle on January 8th, instead of acknowledging and addressing the widespread player complaints. Content creators like FaZe Swagg urged Activision to "read the room," while others, like CharlieIntel, highlighted the severity of the Ranked Play issues. Many players, such as Taeskii, have pledged to boycott store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.
The impact of these issues is evident in the game's dwindling player count. Since the October 2024 release of Black Ops 6, Steam statistics reveal a staggering 47% drop in players. While data for other platforms (PlayStation and Xbox) is unavailable, the Steam numbers strongly suggest widespread player dissatisfaction and potential exodus due to the persistent problems. The situation leaves Call of Duty's future uncertain, raising serious questions about Activision's commitment to addressing player concerns and maintaining the game's long-term health.
