Activision has apologized for including footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush tragedy in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, confirming that the material will be removed in an upcoming update.
The footage was reportedly used during a fictional North Korean invasion sequence, prompting criticism from families of those who lost their lives in the real-world disaster.
Modern Warfare 4 Update Will Remove Itaewon Tragedy Footage
The controversial scenes reportedly feature actual news footage from the 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Seoul, South Korea, where nearly 160 people died and many others were injured.
Families of the victims condemned the use of the material, describing its inclusion in a fictional military conflict as inappropriate and insensitive.
Following the criticism, Activision issued an apology and confirmed plans to remove the footage.
The publisher stated that it never intended to reference or diminish the seriousness of the Itaewon tragedy.
Activision also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and apologized for including the videos.
According to the report, the footage is scheduled to be removed through an update arriving November 12, 2026.
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about the use of real-world historical events and tragedies in fictional video game narratives.
