Call of Duty: WWII PC Edition Offline Amid Security Concerns
For those eager to dive into Sledgehammer Games’ 2017 release, Call of Duty: WWII, via PC Game Pass or the Microsoft Store this holiday weekend, disappointment looms. The Call of Duty team has officially taken the PC version offline due to “reports of an issue,” leaving players in a state of uncertainty.
📢 Call of Duty: WWIICall of Duty: WWII on PC Microsoft Store was brought offline while we investigate reports of an issueJuly 5, 2025
This “issue” has proven to be more significant than initially suggested. The Windows edition of Call of Duty: WWII has been compromised by remote code execution (RCE) hackers. These disruptive individuals exploit vulnerabilities to execute code on another player’s PC without consent, potentially leading to malware installation and serious data breaches.
The hacking of older titles is an open-air secret among the Call of Duty community, with players often avoiding the games on Steam. July 3, 2025
The issue of hacking older titles is a well-known concern within the Call of Duty community. Players frequently steer clear of these games on platforms like Steam. While Activision has opted to keep servers for mainline titles operational indefinitely, the maintenance of these servers often falls by the wayside as the company shifts focus to newer releases.
The recent inclusion of older Call of Duty titles in Xbox and PC Game Pass has attracted both new and returning players to the franchise. Many were drawn in by the belief that Microsoft, now the owner of Activision, would provide a safer gaming environment. However, the RCE exploits currently affect only those accessing the Windows version of Call of Duty: WWII. Xbox consoles, operating on a modified Windows kernel, are less susceptible to such hacking attempts, offering a more secure experience.
Despite the game’s removal from online access, player frustration continues to mount. The Call of Duty team’s communication has been criticized for its lack of transparency regarding the RCE vulnerabilities.
Got this message while playing COD WWII from r/WWII
The official announcement from the Call of Duty Updates social media accounts merely indicated that the game would be taken offline to “investigate reports of an issue,” without addressing the RCE exploit or the risks faced by players who had recently logged in.
As Xbox plans to expand its catalog of Call of Duty titles on the Game Pass platform, concerns linger within the community. There is apprehension that other older games may also harbor similar vulnerabilities, potentially exposing a wave of new players to hacking threats without prior warning.
While Call of Duty: WWII remains available for installation on Xbox PC and the Microsoft Store, it is currently offline. The developer, Sledgehammer Games, has not been immune to the recent wave of layoffs at Microsoft, which also impacted other studios supporting the franchise, such as Raven Software and High Moon. The exact number of affected team members remains unclear, raising questions about the future support for older titles once they are integrated into Game Pass.
For those who cannot wait to experience Call of Duty: WWII, the Xbox version is still accessible. Alternatively, players might consider enjoying some double XP in Black Ops 6 while the situation unfolds.
