Activision removes CoD Black Ops 6, Warzone ads after backlash

Activision has withdrawn controversial advertisements that appeared within Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone loadout menus, claiming they were mistakenly published as part of a "feature test."

Player Outrage Over Intrusive Ads

Following Season 4's launch last week, players encountered prominent weapon bundle promotions while customizing their loadouts - unavoidable placements that sparked immediate backlash.

The community response was overwhelmingly negative, with many calling it the final straw for the franchise:

• "Unacceptable in a premium $80 game - this feels like mobile game monetization"
• "Warzone being free-to-play is one thing, but ads in paid titles crosses the line"
• "The menu experience now feels like navigating a digital storefront"

Activision's Response Raises Eyebrows

The publisher tweeted: "A UI feature test displaying store content in Loadout menus was published in error during Season 04 and has been removed."

Many players remain skeptical about Activision's explanation:

• "Classic strategy - test outrageous features and claim 'mistakes' for damage control"
• "Translation: We saw the massive backlash and walked it back"
• "This wasn't accidental - it was a probe to see how much they could push"

Microtransaction Concerns Grow

The incident occurs amidst growing player frustration with Call of Duty's monetization approach:

• $70 base game price (soon increasing to $80)
• Multiple battle pass tiers with premium options
• Increased store bundle promotions
• Mounting concerns about post-Microsoft acquisition monetization

All attention now turns to the rumored Black Ops 2 sequel, where Activision may attempt similar monetization experiments.