Activision removes multiplayer map following complaints by Muslim gamers

By: Muhammad Qasim Hassan

  |   October 9th, 2012   |  

Uncategorized

Favela, One of the most popular multiplayer maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, has been pulled out of rotation by Activision after Muslim gamers complained over holy writings in the map’s bathroom.

According to a report by Kotaku, a couple of paintings featuring a quote that read “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty” from Muslim’s Prophet Muhammad were seen hanging in the bathroom.

One of these paintings was hanging right above the toilet, making the sight even more offensive to the Muslims as it is forbidden in their faith to hang Islamic holy teachings in the bathrooms.

After coming across the paintings, the Muslim gamers requested Activision and developer Infinity Ward to take notice.

The publisher was quick to realize that the sentiments of gamers belonging to the Islamic faith had been hurt and therefore swiftly took the map off the rotation.

The map will return after the paintings in question and any similar content is edited out to ensure that the map no longer remains offensive to anyone.

The same textures are also being removed from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

An Activision representative has told Kotaku that the company deeply regrets the presence of such images in the game and that there was no intention to offend anyone, which is why an immediate action is being taken to remove not only those two paintings, but also any similar paintings from their various game libraries.

“It can be offensive to those of Islamic faith—like those in the aforementioned video—to see holy teachings written on or in a bathroom, and with the paintings having been brought to Activision and Infinity Ward’s attention, the map has been removed until it can be edited. We apologize to anyone who found this image offensive. Please be assured we were unaware of this issue and that there was no intent to offend. We are working as quickly as possible to remove this image and any other similar ones we may find from our various game libraries,” stated the Activision representative.

The representative further went on to add that a separate Title Update is being work on at the moment that will remove the texture from Modern Warfare 2, until which Favela multiplayer map will remain unavailable to the players.

He asserted that both Activision and Infinity Ward has the utmost respect for all cultures and religious beliefs and are committed to removing concerns of loyal Call of Duty fans.

The move by Activision to remove the map to remove the controversial content and issuing an apology is being cheered by gamers all around the globe, regardless of what faith they belong to, as this has highlighted the company’s sensitivity to the gamers’ concerns.

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