Activision took down Call of Duty game after PC players hacked, says source

In a move to protect gamers, Activision has taken the drastic step of removing 'Call of Duty: WWII' from the Microsoft Store due to a security breach that has left several PC players vulnerable to hacking. Reports indicate that a specific exploit in the game allowed hackers to compromise players' computers. Last week, the gaming giant announced the offline status of this 2017 first-person shooter, which is also available to subscribers of Game Pass, a monthly gaming service. Activision stated it was investigating reports of an unspecified issue, raising concerns within the gaming community. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the decision to pull the game was directly linked to these hacking incidents. Many players took to social media to voice their grievances, claiming they had been hacked while playing, highlighting the urgency of the situation. One user warned others not to play the game on Game Pass, citing a remote code execution (RCE) exploit that could allow attackers to deploy malware that takes full control of a user’s device. As of now, the Microsoft Store and Game Pass versions of 'Call of Duty: WWII' remain unavailable, according to Activision’s status updates. The company has not provided further comments despite multiple inquiries. Interestingly, the version affected is distinct from those available on Steam, which had already addressed this particular vulnerability. This incident marks another chapter in Activision's ongoing battle against hacking, a challenge that has intensified in recent years. In November 2024, a vulnerability in 'Call of Duty’s' anti-cheat system led to the wrongful banning of thousands of legitimate players. Earlier incidents included a campaign that utilized infostealer malware to target unsuspecting players, and a self-spreading worm that exploited an old bug in 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.' While many game developers are enhancing their cybersecurity measures, Activision has faced significant layoffs, which have unfortunately impacted its dedicated cybersecurity teams. The company continues to navigate these troubling waters, striving to safeguard its player base.