Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Officially Removing Seoul Crush Footage

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 To Remove Controversial Real Disaster Footage Published Oct 30, 2026, 8:21 AM EDT James Lucas is an Executive Editor at TheGamer who has worked in professional journalism since 2018. A Newcastle University graduate with a degree in Journalism, Media, and Culture, they have written hundreds of guides, news stories, and original reports, with bylines in IGN, NME, GaymingMag, and VG247, sourcing interviews with studio heads, legendary industry figures, prominent actors, and more. An expert on FPS games, Soulslikes, RPGs, and survival horror, James has intimate knowledge of a wide variety of titles, providing in-depth coverage and exclusive profiles. Some of the games they have extensively covered include: Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Elden Ring, and Fallout. They pride themselves on their consistently thorough research, leveraging nearly a decade of industry experience. You can reach them at James.t@thegamer.com Sign in to your TheGamer account Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 came under fire this week for including real news footage of the Seoul crush incident that killed nearly 160 people. In response, Activision issued an apology to Korean media outlets and confirmed it will be removed in the game's next update on November 12. "Highly Inappropriate And Senseless" Activision As reported by the BBC, bereft family members were "appalled" that the footage was included in the game to illustrate the fictional North Korean invasion. The crush happened in the Itaewon district four years ago after 100,000 people visited to celebrate Halloween, leaving the streets so tightly packed that people could not move. The Guardian reported at the time that "chaos erupted" at 10pm when crowds suddenly began to surge in different directions, causing people to lose their footing on the slope. People knocked each other over, piled on top of one another, and were unable to move. Social media footage showed those caught in the crowd trying to escape by scaling the adjacent buildings, as the streets were so congested that emergency workers could not reach the injured. The archived footage used in Modern Warfare 4 showed emergency personnel who managed to reach those in the crowd performing CPR on victims in the streets. Bereaved Families Say They Haven't Received A Direct Apology The incident had nothing to do with North Korea or a foreign invasion. Large crowds gathered in a district known for its nightlife, bars, and restaurants to celebrate the first unrestricted Halloween festivities since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Activision claimed that it featured the incident "to establish the game's fictional narrative," and that it had "not intended to reference or trivialize the Itaewon disaster or any other real-world tragedy in any way, shape, or form." However, the families of those who died issued a statement, arguing that "using such an event as material for a game made for entertainment is in itself highly inappropriate and senseless." While Activision has publicly apologized, the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association stated that it had not received a direct apology from the company. Nonetheless, it welcomes the decision to remove the footage.