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

MICROSOFT STORE AND GAME PASS PLATFORMS, JUL 8 – Activision removed the Microsoft Store and Game Pass versions of Call of Duty: WWII after hackers exploited an unpatched remote code execution flaw affecting PC players.

  • In early July 2025, Activision removed the PC editions of Call of Duty: WWII available through the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass after discovering a remote code execution vulnerability that allowed hackers to compromise players' computers.
  • This action followed earlier 2024 incidents where infostealer malware targeted players and a November 2024 flaw in the anti-cheat system banned thousands of legitimate users.
  • The affected versions contained an older unpatched vulnerability absent from the Steam release, and the game's peer-to-peer matchmaking likely worsened the security issues.
  • Players reported notepad pop-ups, forced PC shutdowns, and desktop wallpaper changes to images of Activision lawyer Marc E. Mayer, evidencing extensive trolling and unauthorized access.
  • Activision is actively working on a fix while the versions of the game available through Microsoft’s digital storefront and subscription service remain inaccessible, underscoring the company's ongoing security difficulties.
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TechCrunch broke the news in United States on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
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