Activision has issued an apology for including real footage of the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush in South Korea within its latest title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The publisher confirmed that the footage, which appeared in the game's opening sequence, will be removed in an upcoming update scheduled for November 12.
In a statement, Activision expressed its deepest condolences and sincere apologies to the bereaved families, victims, and all those affected by the incident. The company acknowledged that it used actual news footage to establish the game's fictional narrative, which depicts a North Korean invasion of South Korea. However, Activision stated that it never intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy.
The controversy stemmed from the inclusion of footage from the Oct. 29, 2022, crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district, which resulted in 159 fatalities during Halloween celebrations. Reports indicate the footage showed victims being attended to by medical personnel and body bags on the street. The decision to use this real-life news coverage sparked outrage among victims' families, who deemed its use in an entertainment product insensitive and inappropriate.
The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association acknowledged Activision's decision to remove the footage, though they informed the BBC that they had not received a direct apology from the publisher.
Modern Warfare 4, released last week, has also drawn attention for its depiction of a fictional war between North and South Korea. The two nations remain technically at war, as a peace treaty was never signed following the 1953 armistice that concluded active combat in the Korean War.