Activision has apologized for using real footage of the tragedy in Seoul’s Itaewon district in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and announced that it will be completely removed from the game. The corresponding update will be released on November 12.
The controversial approximately three-second-long fragment appeared in the campaign’s opening video. It shows a moment when assistance is being provided to a victim following the 2022 tragedy. In the game, the footage was used as part of a news montage showing the aftermath of the fictional invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
The use of the archival footage sparked outrage among the families of those who died in Itaewon and public organizations. They stated that real footage of the tragedy should not be used as material for an entertainment game and called on Activision to immediately remove the scene.
The Korea Game Users Association also joined the criticism, demanding an explanation of the footage’s origin, an apology to the families, and the replacement of the controversial fragment.
On October 30, Activision officially apologized to the victims’ families and those affected. The company said it did not intend to reference the Itaewon tragedy or diminish its significance, and that the real news footage was used to create the game’s fictional storyline.
At the same time, the publisher confirmed that the controversial material will be completely removed from Modern Warfare 4 in the November 12 update.
The Itaewon tragedy occurred on October 29, 2022, during Halloween celebrations in Seoul. As a result of the crowd crush, 159 people died. That is why the use of real footage from the event in the fictional Call of Duty storyline sparked an especially strong reaction in South Korea.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was released on October 23, 2026. Its campaign tells the story of a fictional conflict on the Korean Peninsula that begins with North Korea’s invasion of South Korea.
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