Call of Duty publisher apologizes for using real footage of Itaewon crowd crush

Activision Publishing, the publisher behind the Call of Duty video game series, issued a formal apology on Friday after using real footage of the tragic 2022 Seoul crowd crush in its latest installment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The footage, which showed a paramedic performing CPR on a victim lying in the street, was prominently featured in the game's opening moments as a depiction of civilian casualties during a fictional conflict with North Korea.

In a statement to local reporters, Activision expressed deep regret to the victims and their families who suffered immense loss, as well as to all those who may have been alarmed or upset by the inclusion of the footage. The publisher confirmed that they had no intention of using tragic events, such as the Itaewon crowd crush, as inspiration for their games or to downplay the pain caused by the incident.

The incident occurred on October 29, 2022, when over 150 people lost their lives in a narrow alleyway in Seoul's vibrant Itaewon district, located in the city's nightlife zone. The families of the bereaved members are among those affected by Activision's decision to use the tragic footage in their latest game.