Activision says it will remove real footage of the Itaewon tragedy from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. According to the BBC’s updated report on 30 October 2026, the change is planned for an update on 12 November. The company also apologised to bereaved families and others hurt by the footage’s inclusion.
Real footage in a fictional conflict
The dispute concerns the opening cinematic of the Infinity Ward game, which places players in a fictional conflict between North and South Korea. IGN reported that authentic rescue footage appeared briefly in a montage, with visual filters and effects applied to it.
Victims’ families objected in a joint statement. They described the images as a record of people trying to save others during an event that remains traumatic for survivors and relatives. They called for the material to be removed from the entertainment product. IGN reported their position alongside the publisher’s initial response.
Activision announces a Call of Duty update
In its first statement, Activision explained that it had used real news material to introduce the fictional story. It denied intending to trivialise the tragedy. According to IGN, that response did not specifically address the request to cut the sequence.
The company’s later statement included both a commitment to change the game and a public apology. The BBC reported that the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association welcomed the removal. However, the association also said it had not received a direct apology from the company. A public statement and direct communication with families are separate matters.
The October 2022 disaster
The tragedy happened during Halloween celebrations in Seoul’s Itaewon district in October 2022. Crowding in narrow streets left people unable to move or breathe, and nearly 160 people died. The BBC’s earlier report placed the families’ objections around the fourth anniversary of the disaster.
As of 30 October, the confirmed development is Activision’s announcement of a planned change. It should not be taken to mean that the footage has already been removed from every available version of the game. The announced update is intended to make that change on 12 November.
Sources: BBC News — removal announcement, IGN — families’ objections and initial response, BBC News — initial report.
