Call Of Duty: 10 Huge Controversies Activision Wants You To Forget

10. Accusations Of Homophobia 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 remains one of the best first-person shooters in video game history. Released in November 2009, Activision were rigorous with their pre-release marketing strategies, but perhaps went a step too far with one particular video...

In the lead up to game's arrival on our shelves, a promotional video, titled "Fight Against Grenade Spam" created some significant controversy for the publisher. In the YouTube video, former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels urges players to stop using the throwable explosives, something we would all most likely advocate for.

It doesn't seem like a creation that would lend itself to homophobia but somehow Activision and Infinity Ward managed it, first and foremost with the name. As an acronym, the title becomes a homophobic slur (did they really think people would let that slide?). The video received widespread criticism, forcing the piece to eventually be removed by its creators. We all hate dying to grenades, but come on Activision...

Another MW2 Easter egg also provided some further controversy for the publisher. In the campaign's earliest stage, players can overhear a pair of soldiers engage in a conversation about sexuality. One soldier says "don't ask, don't tell", clearly in relation to the U.S policy with the same name, which stopped openly gay individuals enlisting.

If you're going to shoehorn in Easter eggs with real life references, maybe make them less offensive in the future...