Activision Archives

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

Crash Bandicoot’s original lead programmer reckons the overhauled N. Sane Trilogy ‘got almost everything right’ except for one tiny detail: ‘they completely botched how jumping works’

The N. Sane Trilogy, released in 2017, received positive feedback but raised concerns about the jumping mechanics compared to the original PlayStation games. Players noted that Crash's jumping abilities seemed more challenging, leading to theories about changes in hitbox and the "hold X to jump higher" mechanic. Gavin highlighted that Naughty Dog had previously used a system that measured button press duration to create nuanced jumps, which Vicarious Visions may have disregarded. This oversight resulted in a binary jumping system where all jumps were set to maximum height, making them feel exaggerated and floaty. Despite the remake's advanced hardware, it failed to replicate the original's gameplay mechanics. Toys for Bob later refined platforming mechanics in 2020's Crash Bandicoot 4, suggesting potential evolution in the franchise's gameplay design.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Call Of Duty: WW2 Is Missing From PC Game Pass, And There’s A Good Reason For It

Call of Duty: WW2 was added to the Xbox Game Pass lineup for console users in June 2025, but the PC version is currently unavailable due to a significant issue. On July 5, 2025, Activision acknowledged that an unpatched version of the game was uploaded to the Xbox PC app, leading to serious security concerns, including hacking incidents. Players have been warned about an RCE exploit, and it is advised that they run anti-virus scans. Meanwhile, the console version continues to receive player feedback through a satisfaction poll.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Activision pulls game after PC hacking reports

Activision has removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass due to reports of hackers exploiting a critical vulnerability in the game's PC versions. Players experienced hijacked computers during gameplay, with evidence of remote code execution attacks. An outdated and insecure build of the game was uploaded to Microsoft’s services, despite having been patched on other platforms. The game is still accessible via Steam and console versions. Activision has not reinstated access to the game and is investigating the security breach.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Call of Duty: WWII pulled from PC Game Pass after hackers hijack players’ PCs

Activision has removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass due to reports of player hacks linked to a critical security vulnerability that allowed hackers to gain remote access to players' computers. This issue arose shortly after the game's introduction to Microsoft’s Game Pass in late June 2025, with players experiencing computer freezes, unexpected command prompts, shutdowns, and direct messages from hackers. The vulnerability, known as Remote Code Execution (RCE), was present in the outdated version on the Microsoft Store, while the Steam version had been patched. Activision has not provided details on the removal or a timeline for the game's return, and players are advised against downloading it from any platform until security concerns are addressed.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Activision pulls Call of Duty game after PC players are hacked

Activision has removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store and Game Pass due to security breaches affecting players. The game is offline while the publisher investigates reports of hacks experienced by PC users. It remains available on Steam and other consoles. Players have reported significant security threats, including a video from streamer Wrioh demonstrating hacking incidents. The version of the game on Microsoft’s platforms reportedly contained an outdated flaw.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

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

Activision has temporarily removed the Microsoft Store version of “Call of Duty: WWII” due to a serious security breach involving a vulnerability that allowed hackers unauthorized access to players' computers. The company is investigating the situation and is working on a patch to resolve the exploit. Players have reported hacking incidents while playing, with concerns raised about a remote code execution vulnerability. The affected version of the game differs from those on Steam, as it contained an outdated flaw that had already been patched elsewhere. Activision has faced multiple hacking incidents in recent years, including issues with its anti-cheat system and malware targeting players. The company has also experienced layoffs that have impacted its cybersecurity resources.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Call of Duty: WW2 on PC Game Pass yanked offline amid reports security exploits are leaving players with screens full of smut

Activision has temporarily removed the PC Game Pass version of Call of Duty: WW2 due to reports of an unspecified issue, with concerns raised about a potential remote code execution (RCE) exploit causing disruptive app pop-ups, unexpected PC shutdowns, and inappropriate content. The game is unavailable on both the Game Pass and Microsoft Store but remains accessible on Steam and Battle.net. Community feedback indicates that the game may be vulnerable to RCE exploits, allowing malicious actors to execute harmful code on players' systems. A notable incident involved streamer Wrioh, who reported being "hacked," with a video showing a pop-up claiming, "just RCE'd your ass," and a change to their desktop wallpaper. The VX-Underground malware research collective shared images of an alleged RCE attack, highlighting an "unpatched RCE exploit" and instances of trolling with pop-ups and inappropriate content. VX-Underground speculated that the attacker could deploy various forms of malware, though their primary intent seems to be creating chaos. As of now, Call of Duty: WW2 for PC Game Pass and the Microsoft Store remains offline, with no updates from Activision on its return.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Gamers hacked playing Call of Duty: WWII—PC version temporarily taken offline

The PC version of Call of Duty: WWII has been temporarily taken offline due to a serious security concern involving a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability. This flaw allows attackers to execute malicious code on players' machines without consent, leading to unauthorized control during multiplayer sessions. Exploits reported include opening command prompts, sending messages via Notepad, forcing remote shutdowns, and changing desktop wallpapers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for PC gamers using Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service, as it stems from the game's reliance on peer-to-peer networking. Activision is speculated to be enhancing its anti-cheat systems in response, but the effectiveness of updates to address the RCE vulnerability is uncertain.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Call Of Duty: WW2 pulled offline amid hacking claims after it starts messing with PCs and citing random lawyers

Certain versions of Call Of Duty: WW2 may expose players to inappropriate content, unwanted messages, and potentially ransomware. Activision has temporarily removed the Xbox PC version from online play due to reports of a remote code execution (RCE) exploit. Players have shared evidence of unusual occurrences during gameplay, including messages related to legal actions against cheat code distributors. While Activision has not confirmed the RCE, they acknowledged an "issue" that led to the game's removal. The game is still available on Steam and Battle.net, but it is unclear if these platforms are affected. The hacker group VX-Underground suggested that the disruptions are likely linked to the RCE exploit, with potential malware deployment, although the intent appears to be more mischievous than harmful.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Call of Duty takes PC game offline after multiple reports of RCE attacks on players

Call of Duty has temporarily taken its PC games offline due to reports of remote code execution (RCE) attacks that have compromised players' computers. The developers are investigating the issue. Players have shared videos of their systems being hacked during gameplay, with incidents including game freezes and unauthorized command executions. The vulnerability is linked to the shift from dedicated servers to peer-to-peer networking, which has made older games more susceptible to attacks. MalwareBytes has noted that this issue has become well-known in the community, leading many to avoid these titles. Previous vulnerabilities allowing RCE through the Steam platform were identified six years ago. The official Call of Duty X account has not provided updates on the investigation or the status of the games.