[DiaryPoint = Reporter Choi Seung-jin] Activision says it will remove all footage of the Itaewon disaster used in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in a game update scheduled for release on Nov. 12. The company apologized to victims and their families, as well as to everyone hurt by the incident.
The disputed clip, about three seconds long, appeared in an opening sequence and was taken from actual news coverage. It showed paramedics performing CPR on a person who had collapsed at the Itaewon disaster site, and was used to set up a fictional wartime scenario on the Korean Peninsula. Activision said it had no intention of evoking a real tragedy or making light of the suffering it caused.
Groups representing victims’ families and civil society organizations called the use of disaster footage in an entertainment game inappropriate and demanded its removal. The controversy grew after reports made clear that real news footage had been inserted into the game’s fictional story. Activision then changed course and said it would remove the material entirely.
The footage may remain until the update arrives
According to Activision, the footage is set to be removed when the update rolls out on Nov. 12. Players who launch the game before installing it may still see the clip. Activision has not announced a release time or the order in which the update will reach different platforms.
Players who already own the game should check their platform’s update notification and download status when they launch it on or after Nov. 12. If no update appears, they can check for one in the game launcher or the game management screen on their console. For the exact rollout time and instructions for manually updating, follow platform-specific announcements.
Buyers should check that the update is installed
Anyone considering a purchase should check that the latest version is installed before launching the game, since rollout times may vary by platform even after Nov. 12. Activision has announced the removal date but has not shared what the replacement footage will show or when the update will be available on each platform. The Nov. 12 update announcement and confirmation that the patch has installed are the next things to watch.