Call of Duty controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Activision responds to criticism over Itaewon footage in Call of Duty
Company response
Activision confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 used real-world news footage and said it did not intend to reference or trivialise the Itaewon disaster or another real-world tragedy. The company had not yet responded to demands to remove the footage.
Stated objective. Activision said the footage was used to establish the game's fictional narrative.
Company response
Clarification — Activision
However, added that it had "not intended to reference or trivialise the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form".
Clarification — Activision
The game's opening cinematic utilizes some real world news coverage to establish the game's fictional narrative,
Source excerpt
The company confirmed that it used the real-life footage in the game.
However, the BBC reported that the company has not yet responded to the demands to remove the footage from the game.
However, added that it had "not intended to reference or trivialise the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape or form".
2022
Activision sues EngineOwning over game cheats
Lawsuit filed
Activision Publishing filed a lawsuit against EngineOwning, which it says distributes and sells software enabling cheating in Activision-published games. Activision alleges the conduct is unlawful and seeks to stop it; the claims are allegations in the lawsuit.
Stated objective. Activision seeks to put a stop to the alleged conduct.
Source excerpt
“By this lawsuit, Activision seeks to put a stop to unlawful conduct by an organization that is distributing and selling for profit numerous malicious software products designed to enable members of the public to gain unfair competitive advantages (i.e., to cheat) in the COD Games,” Activision said.
Activision Publishing, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against EngineOwning, a company that advertises cheats for Call of Duty games and other popular online shooters, and is seeking to shut down software that allows people to cheat in any Activision-published game.
2020
Court dismisses AM General lawsuit against Activision
Ruling
A federal judge dismissed AM General’s lawsuit against Activision over Call of Duty’s depiction of Humvees, agreeing that the vehicles’ inclusion furthered the games’ artistic realism.
Source excerpt
In 2017, Activision was sued by AM General over . In its defense, the publisher said the vehicle’s inclusion was a “first amendment” issue, a point a federal judge agreed with today while dismissing GM’s case.Call of Duty’s accurate depiction of Humvees