A recent tweet from the official Call of Duty account promoting a new store bundle has ignited a firestorm of criticism within the game's community. Players are frustrated with Activision's apparent focus on monetization while ignoring the widespread game-breaking problems plaguing titles like Black Ops 6 and Warzone. The tweet, which garnered over 2 million views, has been met with thousands of replies accusing Activision of being out of touch with the player base.
Black Ops 6, launched on October 25, 2024, initially received positive reviews. However, the game's condition has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Even professional Call of Duty players like Scump have publicly stated that the series is in its worst state ever. The primary source of the backlash is the multitude of issues affecting both Black Ops 6 and Warzone, including hackers in Ranked Play, persistent server problems, and other bugs.
Call of Duty: Warzone players are reminiscing about the Verdansk era and a particular weapon that was a community favorite.
The controversial tweet, part of the Call of Duty x Squid Game collaboration, promoted a new VIP-themed store bundle. The timing of the promotion, amidst ongoing game issues, was perceived as tone-deaf by many players. They argue that Call of Duty's social media should be addressing the game's problems instead of pushing new microtransactions.
Prominent community members, including content creator FaZe Swagg and news account CharlieIntel, criticized Activision for its misplaced priorities. Many players, like Twitter user Taeskii, are boycotting store bundles until the anti-cheat system is improved. The frustration is palpable, with many players voicing their disappointment and some even quitting the game altogether.
Since Black Ops 6's release, its player count on Steam has plummeted by over 47%. While data for other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox is unavailable, the decline on Steam suggests a broader trend. The combination of hackers and server issues is likely driving players away.
