Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues
Activision's recent promotion of a new store bundle amidst widespread game issues has ignited a firestorm of criticism within the Call of Duty community. A tweet promoting a Squid Game-themed bundle garnered over 2 million views and thousands of angry responses, accusing Activision of being tone-deaf to player concerns.
Both Warzone and Black Ops 6 are plagued by significant problems, most notably rampant cheating in Ranked Play, severely impacting gameplay. These issues, coupled with persistent server problems, have led to a dramatic drop in player numbers on Steam, with over 47% of Black Ops 6 players abandoning the platform since the game's October 2024 launch. Even professional players like Scump have publicly declared the franchise's current state as its worst ever.
Activision's Promotional Tweet Fuels the Fire
The January 8th tweet promoting a new Squid Game VIP bundle proved to be a particularly ill-timed move. While the collaboration itself may be appealing to some, the timing, amidst widespread complaints about in-game issues, triggered a wave of negative reactions. Influencers like FaZe Swagg and news outlets such as CharlieIntel joined the chorus of criticism, highlighting the disconnect between Activision's promotional efforts and the urgent need to address game-breaking problems. Many players, like Twitter user Taeskii, are boycotting store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are improved.
A Dying Game?
The declining player base on Steam strongly suggests widespread player dissatisfaction. While data for PlayStation and Xbox remains unavailable, the significant drop on Steam strongly indicates that the combination of cheating, server issues, and Activision's apparent lack of responsiveness are driving players away. The overwhelming negative response to the promotional tweet underscores a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment within the Call of Duty community.
