Call of Duty Opening Uses Real Itaewon Disaster Footage, Families Demand Removal

Families of people killed in the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush in Seoul want Activision to remove footage of the disaster from the opening of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The demand, reported on 28 October 2026, follows complaints from South Korean players about a short clip in the game's opening sequence.

The opening montage uses archive news clips to build a fictional story. In the game, North Korea launches a full-scale invasion of the South Korean mainland, and the sequence shows this through what appear to be news reports. One shot shows a paramedic giving CPR to a person lying on the ground. South Korean players identified that shot as real news footage from the Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon, according to Video Games Chronicle.

The 2022 crush happened when a crowd surged through a narrow alleyway during a crowded street party. It caused 159 deaths and 196 injuries, according to the same report.

The Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association issued a statement demanding that Activision take the clip out of the game. The Korea Game Users Association asked the publisher to edit the clip out, explain its decision, apologise, and update the game to replace the footage.

Bereaved families and civic groups described Activision's use of the footage as "inconsiderate," according to The Chosun.

Activision responded that the opening used real news report footage to convey its fictional narrative. The company said it had no intention to refer to or treat lightly real tragic events, including the Itaewon disaster.

The clip is one of several real-world images in a game that centres on conflict between North Korea and South Korea. For now, the families' statement and the gamers' group's requests stand alongside Activision's explanation.