Online multiplayer would not be what it is today without the Call of Duty franchise. From team strategy planning to gloats over headshots, these games made it irresistible to trash talk with anyone around the world. The franchise has sold over 250 million copies, and total sales revenue of the game is in the billions. Who knew people wanted to wage war that bad? Call of Duty had humble beginnings, primarily taking place during WWII. The fourth installment in the series, Modern Warfare flipped the script and brought the battle to current times.
Regardless of how some may feel about the games, they have a realism that has contributed to their success. It is the first game in the last decade to bring the realities of war to gamers.While the realistic nature of the games is definitely a plus, it has also led some to walk away from or criticize the series.
A game as successful and groundbreaking as Call of Duty is bound to spur some controversy. The subject matter of the game has been attached to numerous tragedies, most involving active shooter situations. Also, any legitimate game about war acknowledges the severity of death. As a result, there have been several easter eggs that address ghosts or creepy happenings on the battlefield. On November 3, Call of Duty makes its return by going back to the WWII setting that made it famous. In honor of the new installment, here are 25 unsettling facts you never knew about Call of Duty.
25 You Will Never Trust Your Curiosity Again
Gamers are trained to investigate every nook and cranny to grab some ammo or create new supplies. However, sometimes, it does not pay to act on curiosity. In Call of Duty: Finest Hour, there is a secret room awaiting players who have the guts to handle the horror. In the level Underground Passage, there is a hidden tunnel that is accessible by opening it with explosives. Most gamers are probably expecting some cool loot, or maybe even some lore to go along with the story. Unfortunately, the reality is much more frightening. They will see an empty cradle, and upon walking closer, a ghostly child will appear. Wow, COD is taking some cues from Silent Hill on this one. Give it a try if you dare.
24 The Military Is Encouraged To Continue “Combat Training” With COD
Over the years, Call of Duty has received praise and been criticized for its realism. Well, the United States government were interested in what the games could do for the military. To capitalize on the realism of COD, military personnel have been encouraged to play the game to improve combat tactics. Basically, this game is being used to train the military to wage war. The same game you use to trash talk with your friends is a tool for the United States military. COD was described as allowing soldiers to take their combat training home with them and fully stay in the mindset of a soldier. Whew! For most of us, we play this game to decompress. For some elite soldiers, this game represents “off-the-clock” professional development.
23 A Foiled School Attacker Wanted To Use COD Music While Carrying Out His Plan
In recent years, the number of shootings has risen in the United States. As this trend has continued, the perpetrators in these events are getting bolder in their execution. A teenager who planned to carry out an attack in Oregon was not only going to engage in a heinous crime; he knew exactly what song he wanted as background noise. The “No Russian” mission in COD: MW2 is a controversial one (for reasons stated later on), and he planned to blare music from the mission using his car. This is beyond disturbing, and luckily adults were able to stop the shooting before anyone was hurt. Knowing the subject matter of this mission and the plans this teenager wanted to carry out would make anyone look at MW2 a little differently.
22 Hear One Of The Most Evil Speeches Known To Man
COD does not shy away from unsettling topics or some of the most heinous acts in history. An easter egg in COD: World At War furthers this point. During the Downfall mission, toward the end of the map players can hear the faint sounds of someone speaking angrily speaking in a foreign language. At first, the dialogue is a little hard to understand, but as players step closer for a clearer “signal,” there is no doubt as to who the voice belongs to. Players can hear the haunting speech of Adolf Hitler as he excites legions of Nazis to carry out the most sickening of plans. The subject matter of World At War and the real-life actions of one of the evilest men of all time make this easter egg as creepy as they come.
21 How Long Can You Last In The Asylum?
The object of COD is to kill your appointment, whoever that might be. There are some other missions where people can defend areas or take “flags,” but the ultimate goal is to eradicate the enemy at all cost. This message is layered throughout the games, and everyone knows this. However, since death is such a looming reality within the game, the developers decided to examine death from the “other side.” The asylum in COD: World At War is incredibly eerie. Each area feels like players are not alone, even if they think they are. If players can stand the fear, they can go into the bathroom area and hear two disturbing things: a young girl crying and a ghostly piano playing in the background.
20 Did The first Zombies Uncover A Real-Life Conspiracy Theory?
Some myths are fun and interesting. The stories of the Greek gods of Olympus, or the Norse legends of times past engage us. Mythology gives individuals another way to look at the history of the world. Unfortunately, there are some urban legends and myths that are better off not existing at all. There is a disturbing and awful creature in the first Zombies installment called a Vril. There is an urban legend that these creatures are real and live in a community within the earth. Some have even gone as far as to say they worked with Hitler during his time in power because of their evil nature and high intelligence. Whether people believe this or not the fact that there is a myth that says evil people are living below us may make it a little difficult to sleep tonight.
19 The Infamous Illuminati Make An Appearance
There was a time when people gave others the “you must be off your rocker,” side eye when someone mentioned the Illuminati. Everyone was scouring music videos, performances, and government speeches for references to this secret “society” that has a hand in most major events. The Illuminati is rumored to be a real-life organization that not only controls major events but uses media to brainwash people into a false sense of security using various key symbols. Whether one chooses to believe in them or not, the story of their origins is pretty eerie; which is why an appearance in Zombies is questionable. The group is a part of the lore, but their main activities have not been revealed to fans, keeping in line with their “real-life” mysterious behavior.
18 Watch Your Back…
Remember when you used to go to that ancient place we used to call the mall? Well, in every store there was the most menacing and evil looking beings: mannequins. There is something insanely frightening about a figure that has the characteristics of a human but the lifelessness of a doll. In COD: Black Ops 3, this fear is exploited to the fullest extent. In one mission, some robots look like mannequins but have the characteristics of weeping angels. This terrifying monster is a shout out to Dr. Who. Weeping Angels are creatures who will follow and attack someone if they turn their back on them. This means players have to keep these creatures in full view to avoid a horrifying end.
17 Teddy Bears Can’t Be Scary…Right?
As stated in a previous entry, COD does not shy away from the horrors and realities of war. As disturbing as it is to think about, adults are not the only people impacted by the harsh actions of war. In the Flooded Map in COD: Ghosts, players can find a teddy bear nestled between a building and a vent. The bear is just lying there lifelessly. How in the world did it get there? What happened to its owner that caused it to be perched as high as it is? It is a mundane teddy bear, but its meaning is so much greater. The developers at COD said a mouthful without a cutscene. This leads players to believe that children were a direct casualty of war, and it reminds players of the realism of the game.
16 This Mission Needed A Disturbing Content Notice
This mission made controversy and Call of Duty two words that are now routinely used together. Considering what has happened in airports and on airplanes over the years, one would think Call of Duty would cool their jets on even placing a mission near an airport much less inside one. However, as stated before, COD does not shy away from uncomfortable topics and downright shocking missions. A task mentioned earlier called “No Russian” in MW2 allowed players to infiltrate a group of Moscow terrorist and blend in by participating in the killing of innocent people in an airport. Whoa…what? That’s right; COD lets players become a terrorist and then shoot up an airport. Naturally, this caused a massive storm of bad press for the game and made the team make this mission optional for gamers.
15 A Grown Man Took Losing A Little Too Seriously
We have all become frustrated or even angry about losing in COD. The feeling that someone took you out with a knife or expertly placed bomb can be too much to handle for some. This is where all those YouTube videos showing the top 10 angry gamers comes from. While releasing some stress can be helpful; unfortunately, some can go overboard and take losing too seriously. Mark Bradford, a man over 40, attacked a 13-year-old child for beating him in a game of Call of Duty and gloating about it. The guy hunted the child, entered his home, and then choked him. Bradford did have some mental health issues that contributed to his outburst, but he was sentenced for his assault on the boy.
14 COD Is Involved In Another Link To Terrorism
The links to extreme violent acts keep coming for COD. French Terrorist, Mohammed Merah, played such a considerable amount of the game before he committed a terrorist attack against three soldiers and four civilians that his 18-year-old wife remarked on it after he died. In fact, most of the couple’s time was spent either watching The Simpsons or playing the game for extended lengths of time. As a result of this revelation, members of British Parliament called for restrictions on the game. The realism that has brought critical acclaim has again created a negative storm around the deadly nature of the game. It has been awhile since COD has been attributed to an event as violent as this, but it looks like this may not be the last time.
13 COD Was Banned For Wrecking A Nation’s Image
Showing the realities of war also means that certain nations will be highlighted in the game. Considering, the recent issues the United States has had with various countries in the Middle Eastern region, it is expected that there would be tense feelings about their inclusion in any games. Pakistan was not so excited about COD: Black Ops 2 because they felt the game automatically equated the country with terrorism. The game showed Pakistan’s intelligence agency actively supporting Al Qaeda and jihadi organizations. The ban remarked that the games threaten the national unity and sanctity of the country. Black Ops 2 was actually developed with the help of U.S. Navy Seals who were a part of some missions in Pakistan. While this realism is commendable, it can be a bit too much for counties mentioned in the games.
12 COD: MW Was Used For The Worst “Training” Possible
In 2011, Ander Breivik gunned down 69 people in Norway. This attack was cold, calculated, and downright chilling. It showed that the United States was unfortunately not the only country to experience an uptick in mass shootings. While his actions are heinous enough, what he used to “train,” for this horror is even worse. Breivik described his training routine that included regular runs with COD: MW to improve his marksmanship. He practiced shooting using a holographic aiming device in the game. While games are not responsible for the actions someone takes, the conversation about the impact and influence of games like COD will be a part of debates for years to come. Most use these games for entertainment, but unfortunately, some feel compelled to use these games as a weapon against the innocent.
11 North Korea Committed The Ultimate Act Of Borrowing Without Asking
It is no secret that North Korea is an enemy of the United States. Their dictatorship regime and affinity for nuclear weapons makes them a bit of a target for our government’s dislike. However, the idea that they would have anything to do with Call of Duty should give everyone goosebumps regardless of the details of their involvement. The North Korean government used footage from COD: MW3 for their state-run propaganda along with music from Michael Jackson’s “We Are The World,” showing America’s destruction. Ironically, North Korea used the violence of COD to make a point about their sinister plans for America. Not quite sure if this or the fact that they used a charity song as background music in the propaganda is more disturbing.
10 The COD Game Director Advocated Brainwashing
Sometimes, the truth is much stranger and unsettling than fiction. COD game director, Dave Anthony caused audiences to do a double take with his comments on brainwashing and mind influencing. He gave a talk at The Atlantic Counsel Think Tank and discussed the marketing team for COD. He remarked that the team was able to make people want the game whether they really did or not through intrusive marketing tactics. He encouraged the government to take a look at these tactics, and see if it could work for them. Um…what? Is he seriously advocating mind control on American citizens? From the looks of his talk, Anthony is entirely on board with the government taking tactics used for and in the game to control the masses. Think about that the next time you pick up the controller.
9 The British Parliament Had Harsh Word For COD: MW3
Activision developers broke the mold with the Modern Warfare storyline. These games are responsible for some of the most controversial events in the franchise. COD: MW3 began shockingly and disturbingly. The game featured a father videotaping his wife and child enjoying a vacation in Europe only to be killed by a fatal explosion. Due to recent terrorist attacks in the London Underground at the time, the British Parliament released a statement about their deep concern about the content of the game. These games have made governments and leaders around the world pretty nervous for years. Clearly, their concern has not made it to the masses as this game continues to sell in high quantities. The controversy may actually increase interest in these games.
8 COD Zombies Has More Sinister Ties Than It Lets On
COD Zombies is a blast! Taking out the undead with assault rifles, and testing the limits of how long you will last is exactly what the doctor ordered. However, any game involving the undead should ring some bells that something evil could be going on. In the 2009 COD: Zombies game, the player has to feed demonic dogs, six zombies. Since there are three dogs, the number comes out to 666, the number of the devil. Now, nothing with zombies is ever lighthearted, but this definitely reveals that the lore behind the existence of these monsters is a lot more disturbing than originally let on. Is the devil directly involved with what is happening? Are there some religious overtones gamers initially missed? This brings up a lot more questions than answers.
7 Get Ready To Never Play Dome Again
Imagine being in your living room and they just re-released COD: World At War on VR. You are excited to get a chance to feel the first-person nature of combat. So far, the experience is incredible, the surround sound enables you to pick up every step and ambient noise in the game. You make your way to the Dome mission, and for some reason, you pick up some sounds you never wanted to hear. In COD: World At War during the free-for-all campaign on the Dome map, if the player travels to a particular location they can hear incredibly unsettling chants even though no one is around. They get progressively louder as the player moves around. If they ever release this or any COD game on VR, think long and hard about whether you are truly ready to hear “everything.”
6 A Sacred Text Sent Shockwaves
When dealing with other countries and the cultures of their citizens, developers at Activision need to be a little more careful about what they include in games. In COD: MW2, Muslim gamers took issue with the mission, Favela. If the player goes to the second floor of the Favela, enters the bathroom and looks through a scope at a picture there are references to Allah from a real quote by the Prophet Muhammad. This got the mission pulled in subsequent versions until the situation was fixed. Even in a game about war, it is still pivotal to think of all the different types of people who may play the game. Any religious or cultural text needs to be carefully examined before its usage in a game because others may not take this misstep so lightly.