Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues
Activision's recent promotional tweet for a new Call of Duty store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the gaming community. The tweet, boasting over 2 million views and countless angry responses, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The company's focus on promoting new store content while ignoring persistent, game-breaking issues in both Warzone and Black Ops 6 has pushed many players to the brink.
The controversy underscores a significant downturn for the franchise. Despite Black Ops 6's initially positive reception, the game, along with Warzone, has been plagued by rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server problems, and other critical flaws. Even prominent Call of Duty professionals, like Scump, have publicly declared the series to be in its worst state ever.
Activision's Tone-Deaf Tweet
The January 8th tweet, promoting a Squid Game-themed VIP bundle, proved to be a particularly ill-timed marketing move. Fans flooded the comments section, accusing Activision of being out of touch and prioritizing profits over addressing critical gameplay problems. Popular content creator FaZe Swagg directly called out Activision for failing to "read the room," echoing sentiments shared by many. News outlet CharlieIntel highlighted the irony of promoting bundles while Ranked Play remains virtually unplayable for many. Player Taeskii voiced a common sentiment, pledging a boycott of store bundles until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.
Player Exodus on Steam
The backlash extends beyond angry tweets; many players are abandoning the game altogether. Since Black Ops 6's launch in October 2024, Steam player counts have plummeted, with a staggering 47% drop. While data for PlayStation and Xbox remains unavailable, the Steam numbers strongly suggest widespread player dissatisfaction stemming from hacking and server instability. This mass exodus raises serious questions about the long-term health of the Call of Duty franchise.
