Activision is facing criticism for its use of footage from the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush tragedy in the opening moments of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Bereaved families associations and civic groups have issued joint statements calling for the immediate removal of the sensitive material.
The clips, which depict civilian casualties during a fictional North Korean invasion of South Korea, include archived news footage of a person on a stretcher, CPR being administered, and multiple bodies on a road. These scenes are part of an effort to establish the game's fictional narrative through news reports.
In a joint statement, the bereaved families association and the Citizens Countermeasure Meeting stated that using such an incident for entertainment purposes is "highly inappropriate and a senseless act." They highlighted the ongoing trauma experienced by survivors and witnesses of the Itaewon tragedy and urged the developer to take corrective measures, asserting that "if the game developer has even a minimum level of courtesy and empathy toward the victims, they should promptly take corrective measures."
The Korean Game Consumers Association echoed these sentiments, calling for a clear explanation and apology from Activision. The association requested the replacement of the footage in an upcoming update, while also emphasizing that the controversy should not lead to demands for broader censorship of the game.
Activision provided a statement to Eurogamer addressing the controversy: "In developing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, we approached the subject matter with care and respect. The game’s opening cinematic utilizes some real world news coverage to establish the game’s fictional narrative. It is not intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form."
The Itaewon crowd crush tragedy, which occurred four years ago, resulted in 160 deaths and 196 injuries, making it South Korea's most severe mass casualty event since the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse.