Activision will remove real-world footage of Seoul’s 2022 Itaewon crowd crush from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 following backlash from families of victims.
The company confirmed that the next game update, scheduled for 12 November, will replace clips showing rescue efforts, stretchers, and body bags on the street. The material had appeared in the game’s opening sequence, which depicts a fictional invasion by North Korea.
Families affected by the disaster said they were distressed that the tragedy had been repurposed for entertainment. They described the incident as a traumatic event that continues to affect victims, rescue workers, and witnesses, and objected to the use of the chaotic scene in a commercial game.
Activision said the footage was used to establish the fictional narrative and that it did not intend to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any real-world tragedy. The publisher also expressed condolences and apologized to the bereaved families.
The decision was welcomed by the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association, which said it had not received a direct apology from Activision.
Modern Warfare 4 was released last week and had already drawn criticism over its depiction of North Korea invading South Korea. The two Koreas remain technically at war after hostilities in the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty, making the conflict a persistent regional concern.
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