A Reddit post citing South Korean broadcaster MBC reported that Activision apologized and planned to remove all Itaewon-related footage in an update scheduled for November 12. The reported plan concerns the opening cinematic of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
Where the footage appeared
Reports placed the disputed clips in the game’s opening title sequence, amid fictional news broadcasts about a North Korean invasion of South Korea. The footage was reported to show emergency responders treating people during the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush. Bereaved families and civic groups called for its removal ahead of the disaster’s fourth anniversary.
Activision’s initial explanation
Activision initially said that news footage was used to support the fictional story and that it did not intend to trivialize the Itaewon disaster or other real tragedies. The company’s response was reported as a statement to Yonhap.
