Hacking Scandal Erupts with Cryptic Call of Duty Tweet

Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Over Game Issues

Activision's recent promotion of a new store bundle amidst widespread game issues has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. A tweet promoting a Squid Game-themed bundle garnered over 2 million views and thousands of angry replies, accusing Activision of being tone-deaf to player concerns.

Both Warzone and Black Ops 6 are plagued by significant problems, including rampant cheating in Ranked Play, persistent server instability, and other game-breaking bugs. This promotional push, prioritizing new in-game purchases over addressing these core issues, has pushed many players to the breaking point. Even professional players like Scump have publicly declared the franchise's current state as its worst ever.

Activision's Controversial Tweet

On January 8th, Activision used the official Call of Duty Twitter account to promote a new store bundle featuring Squid Game's VIPs. This promotional effort backfired spectacularly, with fans lambasting Activision for failing to address the game's numerous problems. The overwhelming sentiment is that the focus should be on fixing the game, not selling new cosmetic items.

The criticism is particularly sharp regarding the rampant cheating in Ranked Play. Influencers like FaZe Swagg urged Activision to "read the room," while news outlets like CharlieIntel highlighted the broken state of Ranked Play, noting the stark contrast between unplayable matches and the promotion of new bundles. Many players, like Twitter user Taeskii, have vowed to boycott store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved.

Player Exodus and Declining Player Base

The dissatisfaction extends beyond angry comments; many players are abandoning the game entirely. Since the launch of Black Ops 6 in October 2024, Steam player counts have plummeted dramatically. While data for PlayStation and Xbox remains unavailable, the over 47% drop on Steam strongly suggests widespread player frustration stemming from the persistent hacking and server problems. The combination of these issues and Activision's apparent lack of responsiveness is driving players away from the franchise.