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 in Call of Duty (COD) has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the gaming community. A tweet promoting a Squid Game-themed bundle garnered over 2 million views and thousands of angry responses, 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 issues, and other game-breaking bugs. Instead of addressing these critical flaws, Activision's focus on new store bundles has pushed many players to the breaking point.
The negative reaction follows a sharp decline in Black Ops 6's player base on Steam since its October 25, 2024 release. While initially lauded by critics and players, the game's popularity has plummeted, with over 47% of Steam players abandoning the title. This exodus is widely attributed to the prevalence of hackers and ongoing server instability. Even professional COD players, like Scump, have voiced their concerns, stating the franchise is in its worst state ever.
Activision's Controversial Tweet
The controversial tweet, posted on January 8th, promoted a new Squid Game VIP-themed store bundle. This promotional effort, however, backfired spectacularly as players flooded the comments section with outrage. Content creators like FaZe Swagg urged Activision to "read the room," highlighting the disconnect between the company's marketing and the game's deteriorating condition. CharlieIntel pointed out the absurdity of prioritizing new bundles when Ranked Play is so broken that players struggle to complete matches. Many players, like Taeskii, declared they would boycott future store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are improved.
The overwhelmingly negative response underscores a growing sense of frustration within the COD community. The combination of persistent technical problems and Activision's perceived lack of responsiveness has led many to abandon the game entirely. While platform-specific player counts for PlayStation and Xbox remain unavailable, the significant drop on Steam serves as a stark warning of the franchise's declining health.
