Modern Warfare 4 Faces Criticism For Using Real Itaewon Disaster Foota

Modern Warfare 4 Faces Criticism For Using Real Itaewon Disaster Footage

South Korean players and advocacy groups want Activision to remove real footage of the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush from the opening sequence of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 30, 2026 · 10:50 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

South Korean players and groups demanded changes to the opening sequence of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 after finding real footage from the 2022 Itaewon tragedy.

The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association asked Activision to completely remove the video clip from the game.

The Korean Game Consumers Association demanded an apology and a game update to replace the footage.

Activision stated there was no intention to reference or lightly treat real tragic events like the Itaewon disaster.

Season 1 of the game will launch on November 6 with three new multiplayer maps.

South Korean advocates and players are urging Activision to alter the opening sequence of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 after discovering actual footage from the 2022 Itaewon tragedy in the video. The game features a fictional North Korean invasion of Hajin City, but local users quickly spotted the real disaster clip inside the introductory montage.

Modern Warfare 4 Receives Backlash Over Real Itaewon Crowd Crush Footage

SBS News reported that the campaign intro incorporates genuine news footage from the Halloween 2022 Itaewon crowd crush event, specifically displaying an emergency worker administering CPR to a victim.

The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association issued a statement demanding that Activision completely delete the video from the game. The group called the inclusion senseless and inappropriate, noting that families and citizens continue to experience deep trauma from the incident. SBS News translated a quote from the association stating, "If the game developer has even a minimum level of courtesy and empathy toward the victims, they should promptly take corrective measures."

Activision Responds as Consumer Groups Weigh In

The Korean Game Consumers Association also joined the discussion, asserting that Activision needs to issue a proper apology and issue a patch to swap out the montage clip. However, the organization cautioned against using the situation to push for wider game censorship.

Activision responded to the public pressure by stating that the team used real news clips solely to advance the narrative. The company remarked, "There was absolutely no intention to reference or lightly treat any real tragic events, including the Itaewon tragedy." While the studio has released various gameplay updates, it has not yet verified if a future patch will change the opening sequence.

Divided Opinions & Upcoming Season 1 Content

Call of Duty games often draw from actual geopolitical tensions, though critics argued that this specific plot taps into real fears faced daily by South Koreans. On the other hand, a South Korean lawmaker suggested that the country's president should play the game to evaluate national defense readiness against an invasion.

The game achieved strong first-week fan reception despite the dispute. Activision introduced Infected and Possession modes on October 29 and October 30, and Season 1 is scheduled to debut on November 6 with three multiplayer maps, including the classic Shoot House map.

Questions and answers

What real-life footage was used in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?

The game's opening sequence includes actual news footage from the Halloween 2022 Itaewon crowd crush tragedy, showing an emergency responder performing CPR on a victim.

How did Activision respond to the backlash?

Activision stated that the development team included real-life news footage to convey the game's narrative and that there was no intention to reference or lightly treat any real tragic events.