Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 came under fire this week for including real news footage of the Seoul crush incident that killed nearly 160 people. In response, Activision has apologized and confirmed it will be removed in the game’s next update on November 12.
“Highly Inappropriate And Senseless”
As reported by the BBC, bereft family members were “appalled” that the footage was included in the game to illustrate the fictional North Korean invasion.
The crush happened in the Itaewon district four years ago after 100,000 people visited to celebrate Halloween, leaving the streets so tightly packed that people could not move.
The Guardian reported at the time that “chaos erupted” at 10pm when crowds suddenly began to surge in different directions, causing people to lose their footing on the slope. People knocked each other over, piled on top of one another, and were unable to move.
Social media footage showed those caught in the crowd trying to escape by scaling the adjacent buildings, as the streets were so congested that emergency workers could not reach the injured. The archived footage used in Modern Warfare 4 showed emergency personnel who managed to reach those in the crowd performing CPR on victims in the streets.
Activision Has Yet To Issue A Direct Apology
The incident had nothing to do with North Korea or a foreign invasion. Large crowds gathered in a district known for its nightlife, bars, and restaurants to celebrate the first unrestricted Halloween festivities since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Activision claimed that it featured the incident “to establish the game’s fictional narrative,” and that it had “not intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape, or form.” However, the families of those who died issued a statement, arguing that “using such an event as material for a game made for entertainment is in itself highly inappropriate and senseless.”
While Activision has publicly apologized, the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association stated that it had not received a direct apology from the company. Nonetheless, it welcomes the decision to remove the footage.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
