Activision apologized for using real video footage of the Itaewon district tragedy in Seoul in Modern Warfare 4. The company promised to remove the controversial material in the shooter's next upcoming update.
The story campaign of the new Call of Duty centers on a fictional conflict that begins with an attack by North Korea on South Korea. However, one of the cinematic scenes sparked outrage among players and the victims’ families due to the use of actual news footage showing the aftermath of the Itaewon crowd crush.
The scene, lasting about three seconds, shows people on stretchers as well as attempts to resuscitate a victim. This footage was used to depict the population’s reaction to the virtual invasion.
We offer our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the deceased, to the victims who endured severe trauma, and to everyone we have caused pain.
Activision also emphasized that Modern Warfare 4 is a work of fiction created for realistic immersion. According to the company, using real news material was not intended to evoke the Itaewon tragedy or diminish the suffering of the people affected by it.
Earlier, relatives of the victims issued a joint statement expressing their outrage over the developers’ decision to use this footage.
We cannot help but feel horrified that a chaotic yet desperate situation, where numerous eyewitnesses tried to save each other using CPR while victims lay in the cold streets, was literally transplanted into a game scene.
The Itaewon tragedy occurred on October 29, 2022, during Halloween celebrations. A total of 159 people died as a result of the crowd crush. The use of documentary footage of this disaster in an entertainment game triggered a sharp public backlash and ultimately forced Activision to abandon the controversial scene.