Call of Duty Faces Backlash for Prioritizing Store Bundles Amidst Game-Breaking Issues

Activision's recent promotion of a new store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the Call of Duty community. The tweet, boasting over 2 million views and thousands of angry replies, highlights a growing disconnect between Activision and its player base. The company's focus on new in-game purchases, while ignoring persistent problems in Warzone and Black Ops 6, has pushed many players to the breaking point.

Both Warzone and Black Ops 6's Ranked Play modes are plagued by rampant cheating, a problem yet to receive a satisfactory solution. Coupled with server issues and other game-breaking bugs, these ongoing problems have led to a significant drop in player numbers on Steam, with over 47% of players abandoning Black Ops 6 since its October 2024 launch. Even prominent professional players, like Scump, have publicly declared the franchise's current state as its worst ever.

Activision's Tone-Deaf Tweet

The controversial tweet, promoting a Squid Game-themed VIP bundle, arrived on January 8th. This promotional effort, amidst the ongoing turmoil, was met with widespread accusations of Activision being "out of touch." The community's frustration is palpable, with many expressing their belief that addressing the game's technical issues should take precedence over marketing new store content.

Player Reactions and Exodus

The response has been overwhelmingly negative. Influencers like FaZe Swagg and news outlets such as CharlieIntel have joined the chorus of criticism, highlighting the severity of the Ranked Play issues and the perceived prioritization of profits over player experience. Many players have vowed to boycott future store purchases until the anti-cheat measures are significantly improved. The dwindling Steam player count suggests that this frustration is translating into players abandoning the game altogether. While console player numbers remain unknown, the Steam data strongly indicates a significant player exodus.

The situation paints a grim picture for Call of Duty, raising serious questions about Activision's commitment to addressing player concerns and maintaining the long-term health of its flagship franchise.