Call of Duty: World War II reappears on the Microsoft Store and Xbox following a 41-day, unexpected, contentious deletion. Explanation provided.
Call of Duty: WWII has made a comeback on Xbox and PC Game Pass following a 41-day absence due to an investigation into rampant Remote Code Execution (RCE) hacks. The Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass reinstated the popular World War II shooter after the security issue was addressed.
The RCE exploits in Call of Duty: WWII allowed hackers to potentially install malware and cause data breaches on players' PCs. However, Xbox consoles were not affected due to their use of a modified Windows Kernel. Only the Windows edition of the game available on the Microsoft Store was impacted.
The episode served as a reminder that even beloved classics can pose modern risks due to potential security vulnerabilities. The community reacted with mixed emotions to the temporary removal of the game from the Microsoft Store, expressing frustration and confusion due to the lack of clear explanation from Microsoft, while some appreciated the company's efforts to resolve underlying issues quickly and restore the game.
Activision, the game's developer, has not shut down servers for older Call of Duty titles, but support for the games typically ends one year after launch. The company's acquisition by Microsoft has led to an effort to gradually introduce past Call of Duty releases into the Xbox Game Pass service. For several years, Call of Duty launches were limited to Activision's own Battle.net storefront on PC.
Speculation swirled over the 41-day period that the game was unavailable, with some players warning friends to steer clear and others questioning why the Microsoft Store build was uniquely affected. Social media lit up with clips and screenshots of compromised systems during the removal of Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store.
When Call of Duty: WWII returned to the Microsoft Store, it was patched and playable again. Some players returned to play the game, but others remained wary due to the exploit and the long silence from Activision.
Lingering questions about the security of older Call of Duty titles being ported to Game Pass have arisen, with fears that similar flaws could lurk in other legacy releases. Efforts to port older Call of Duty titles to the Microsoft Store and add them to the Xbox Game Pass library could potentially cause hiccups with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this year.
The lack of immediate, detailed communication from Activision left many feeling uneasy about the situation. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it's crucial for developers and platform holders to prioritise transparency and security to maintain the trust of their players.
