In a significant move, Activision has temporarily removed the Microsoft Store version of “Call of Duty: WWII” from circulation due to a serious security breach. Reports indicate that hackers have been exploiting a vulnerability in this specific PC version, resulting in unauthorized access to players’ computers.
Investigating the Breach
Last week, Activision announced the decision to take the game offline while it investigates the situation. The company refrained from detailing the nature of the issue but acknowledged that it was responding to “reports of an issue.” This version of the game, which was recently launched and is also available through the Game Pass subscription service, has raised concerns among the gaming community.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the decision to pull the game was prompted by the hacking incidents. This individual, who requested anonymity due to their non-authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that Activision is actively working on a patch to resolve the exploit.
Player Concerns
Numerous players have taken to social media platforms to voice their frustrations, claiming they experienced hacking incidents while engaged in gameplay. Until now, there had been no confirmed correlation between these hacking reports and the game itself. One player expressed their concerns on Reddit, stating, “The game is not safe to play on PC right now, there’s an RCE exploit,” referring to a remote code execution vulnerability that allows hackers to deploy malware capable of taking control of a victim’s device.
As of the latest updates, the Microsoft Store and Game Pass versions of “Call of Duty: WWII” remain unavailable, as indicated on Activision’s status page. Despite multiple attempts to reach out for comments, Activision has not responded.
Understanding the Versions
It’s worth noting that the version of “Call of Duty: WWII” taken down differs from those available on Steam, as it contained an outdated flaw that had already been patched in other iterations of the game. This distinction has been confirmed by two sources familiar with the situation.
In recent years, Activision has faced several hacking incidents, including a notable event in November 2024 when a flaw in the game’s anti-cheat system led to the banning of thousands of legitimate players. Earlier, the company dealt with a hacking campaign that targeted players with infostealer malware, designed to capture sensitive information such as passwords. In 2023, a self-spreading malware worm exploited an unpatched bug in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” further highlighting the vulnerabilities within the gaming ecosystem.
Industry Response
As the gaming industry grapples with these cybersecurity challenges, many companies have bolstered their cybersecurity and anti-cheat teams. However, Activision has experienced several rounds of layoffs in recent years, which have notably impacted its cybersecurity resources.
Activision took down Call of Duty game after PC players hacked, says source
In a significant move, Activision has temporarily removed the Microsoft Store version of “Call of Duty: WWII” from circulation due to a serious security breach. Reports indicate that hackers have been exploiting a vulnerability in this specific PC version, resulting in unauthorized access to players’ computers.
Investigating the Breach
Last week, Activision announced the decision to take the game offline while it investigates the situation. The company refrained from detailing the nature of the issue but acknowledged that it was responding to “reports of an issue.” This version of the game, which was recently launched and is also available through the Game Pass subscription service, has raised concerns among the gaming community.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the decision to pull the game was prompted by the hacking incidents. This individual, who requested anonymity due to their non-authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that Activision is actively working on a patch to resolve the exploit.
Player Concerns
Numerous players have taken to social media platforms to voice their frustrations, claiming they experienced hacking incidents while engaged in gameplay. Until now, there had been no confirmed correlation between these hacking reports and the game itself. One player expressed their concerns on Reddit, stating, “The game is not safe to play on PC right now, there’s an RCE exploit,” referring to a remote code execution vulnerability that allows hackers to deploy malware capable of taking control of a victim’s device.
As of the latest updates, the Microsoft Store and Game Pass versions of “Call of Duty: WWII” remain unavailable, as indicated on Activision’s status page. Despite multiple attempts to reach out for comments, Activision has not responded.
Understanding the Versions
It’s worth noting that the version of “Call of Duty: WWII” taken down differs from those available on Steam, as it contained an outdated flaw that had already been patched in other iterations of the game. This distinction has been confirmed by two sources familiar with the situation.
In recent years, Activision has faced several hacking incidents, including a notable event in November 2024 when a flaw in the game’s anti-cheat system led to the banning of thousands of legitimate players. Earlier, the company dealt with a hacking campaign that targeted players with infostealer malware, designed to capture sensitive information such as passwords. In 2023, a self-spreading malware worm exploited an unpatched bug in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” further highlighting the vulnerabilities within the gaming ecosystem.
Industry Response
As the gaming industry grapples with these cybersecurity challenges, many companies have bolstered their cybersecurity and anti-cheat teams. However, Activision has experienced several rounds of layoffs in recent years, which have notably impacted its cybersecurity resources.