Modern Warfare 4 Itaewon footage to be removed

Modern Warfare 4 Itaewon footage will be cut in a November 12 update, and Activision has apologised to families. Full details and timeline of the backlash.

FireGhost

October 30, 2026, 07:50 PM5 min read

In brief

AI summary

Activision apologized to Itaewon disaster victims and their families and said the real footage will be removed in the November 12 update.
The footage, showing rescue efforts during the 2022 Seoul crowd crush, remains in the campaign until the patch is released.
Bereaved families and Korean civic groups condemned the footage and demanded its removal, an apology, and a replacement scene.

Contents11 sections

The Modern Warfare 4 Itaewon footage is being removed. Activision says real news footage of the 2022 Seoul crowd crush will be fully cut in a November 12 update, and it has apologised to the families of the victims.

The decision follows an outcry from bereaved families and Korean civic groups. Activision had earlier said the footage was used to set up the game's fictional story, but did not say whether it would take it out.

What did Activision say?

According to Yonhap, Activision sent a notice to Korean reporters on October 30. "We deeply apologize to the victims and their bereaved families who must have suffered, as well as to everyone who we have caused concern," it said. "The footage will be removed in our update set to be rolled out on Nov. 12."

The Korea Herald, citing MBC, reports that the company stressed the footage would be removed entirely. Activision also described the game as a work of fiction built around realistic immersion. It said that using real news footage was never meant to evoke any tragedy, including Itaewon, or to downplay the suffering it caused.

How long will the footage stay in the game?

Dexerto notes that the clip is still visible in the campaign for now. The November 12 patch will remove it automatically for every player, so there is nothing you need to do.

Timeline of the controversy

Date	What happened
October 29, 2022	A crowd crush during Halloween celebrations in Seoul's Itaewon district killed 159 people, according to Yonhap.
October 23, 2026	Modern Warfare 4 launched with around three seconds of real footage in its opening cinematic.
October 28, 2026	The bereaved families' association and civic groups called for the scene to be removed.
October 30, 2026	Activision apologised and confirmed a removal date.
November 12, 2026	The update that removes the footage is due.

A squad of soldiers moving down a dark corridor in Modern Warfare 4 — Official Modern Warfare 4 promotional image (not the scene in question) (Source: Activision / Call of Duty Blog)

How did the controversy start?

Modern Warfare 4's campaign follows a fictional war that begins with North Korea attacking South Korea. Digital Today reports that the opening cinematic used real news clips to show the war's impact on civilians. Among them was about three seconds of broadcast footage of someone receiving CPR during the Itaewon disaster on October 29, 2022.

The BBC says the footage included people being carried away on stretchers, body bags on the street and resuscitation efforts. More than 100,000 people had gone to Itaewon's narrow alleys that night. The streets became so packed that people could not move, and some could not breathe.

What did the families say?

The 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association issued a strongly worded statement. "We cannot help but be appalled that the chaotic and desperate scene, in which many citizens at the site performed CPR to save one another and victims lay on the freezing street, was used to create a scene in a game," it said, as quoted by the BBC.

Digital Today adds that the Korea Game Consumer Association demanded an explanation, an apology and a replacement scene. The families' association told the BBC it welcomed the removal, but said it had not received a direct apology from Activision.

Why did Activision change course?

Activision's first response was more guarded. In a statement to IGN, it said it had approached the subject matter with care and respect, and that the opening cinematic used some real-world news coverage to establish the fictional narrative. It did not address the request to remove the footage at the time.

The BBC notes that the game had already drawn criticism for its premise, as the two Koreas are technically still at war. According to IGN, Call of Duty chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl told the BBC: "We have to understand this is entertainment." The October 30 statement is the first time Activision has offered both an apology and a firm removal date.

Read how the story began in our Itaewon footage report. For what's next in the game, see our Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 guide and our Modern Warfare 4 launch coverage.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Itaewon footage be removed from Modern Warfare 4?

Activision says the footage will be fully removed in a game update on November 12. Dexerto reports the update will remove it automatically for all players.

Did Activision apologise?

Yes. In a statement to Korean media, Activision apologised to the bereaved families, the victims and everyone it caused distress. The families' association told the BBC it has not received a direct apology.

Where did the Itaewon footage appear in the game?

Around three seconds of real news footage appeared in the opening cinematic of the Modern Warfare 4 campaign, used to depict civilian casualties in the fictional North Korean invasion.