Families who lost loved ones in the 2022 Seoul Halloween crowd crush have formally called on Activision to remove real footage of the tragedy from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The game, developed by Infinity Ward, features an opening montage depicting a fictional North Korean invasion of South Korea that briefly incorporates filtered video of actual rescue efforts from the Itaewon incident, which resulted in nearly 160 deaths.
According to reports from the BBC, the families issued a statement expressing that they were appalled by the inclusion of the chaotic scene. They described the footage as showing citizens performing CPR and victims lying on freezing streets, arguing that using such desperate moments for entertainment is highly inappropriate and senseless. The group demanded immediate corrective action, stating that any developer with minimum courtesy and empathy should remove the material without delay.
In response to the controversy, Activision issued a statement to IGN explaining that the real-world news coverage was utilized solely to establish the game's fictional narrative. The publisher emphasized that they approached the subject matter with care and respect, asserting that the cinematic was not intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way. However, Activision did not explicitly address the specific request to remove the footage from the final product.
The original disaster occurred four years ago when an estimated 100,000 people flooded the narrow, sloping streets of Itaewon for Halloween celebrations following three years of lockdowns. Witnesses noted that police struggled to control the massive crowds during the event. Addressing broader criticism regarding the game's setting in a conflict area of real concern to Koreans, Call of Duty chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl told the BBC that the title must be understood as entertainment.
Sources: IGN.