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 games are currently suffering from widespread problems, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs. Prominent Call of Duty players, such as Scump, have publicly declared the franchise's current state as its worst ever. This sentiment is echoed by the community's overwhelmingly negative response to Activision's promotional efforts.
Activision's Tone-Deaf Tweet
The January 8th tweet, promoting a Squid Game VIP bundle, was met with immediate and widespread condemnation. Many players felt Activision was demonstrating a profound inability to understand the community's concerns. Content creators like FaZe Swagg urged Activision to "read the room," while others pointed to the broken Ranked Play mode as evidence of the company's misplaced priorities. Several players vowed to boycott store bundles until effective anti-cheat measures are implemented.
A Declining Player Base?
The backlash extends beyond angry tweets. Steam data reveals a significant decline in Black Ops 6's player count since its October 2024 release, with over 47% of players abandoning the game. While data for PlayStation and Xbox remains unavailable, the Steam figures strongly suggest a widespread exodus, likely fueled by frustration with hacking and server issues. This alarming trend has led many to declare the game "dying."
The situation underscores a critical challenge for Activision. While generating revenue through store bundles is undoubtedly important, ignoring core gameplay issues risks alienating the very players that sustain the franchise. The company's response – or lack thereof – will be crucial in determining the future of Call of Duty.
