Middle Eastern Country Bans Black Ops 6 Ahead of Its Launch

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has received a denial for release in Kuwait, a country located in the Middle East, prompting Activision to fully refund all pre-orders. The gaming giant remains optimistic about a potential future launch.

On October 16, Activision confirmed that Black Ops 6 will not be made available in Kuwait. This announcement came just days ahead of its previously scheduled launch on October 25, leading to the cancellation of pre-orders in the region.

The reasons for this decision are not explicitly stated, but Activision is hopeful that the game might still be sold in Kuwait at some point. In the past, there have been instances where modifications were made to certain Call of Duty titles to comply with regional regulations, suggesting a similar outcome could be on the horizon.

“Currently, this title will not be released in the region,” an Activision representative mentioned in a statement to our affiliated site CharlieIntel. “Consequently, all pre-orders in Kuwait will be canceled and refunds will be processed to the original payment method used for purchase.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not be released in Kuwait. Statement from Activision: “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has not been approved for release in Kuwait. At this time, the title will not be available for release in region. As a result, all pre-orders in Kuwait will be… pic.twitter.com/ZTxUyqD5vk

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) October 16, 2024

Given that the storyline of Black Ops 6 centers around global conflicts in the early 1990s, particularly the Gulf War, it’s possible that the game’s representation of historical events has contributed to its prohibition in the region. Notably, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein could be a significant aspect of the game’s narrative.

There is a possibility that a revised edition, which omits sensitive content related to this historical event, might receive approval for release in Kuwait. “We are optimistic that local authorities will reconsider their stance and permit players in Kuwait to experience [Black Ops 6],” the statement noted.

Historically, there have been numerous instances where Call of Duty games underwent edits or deletions of certain material to meet the standards of specific audiences.

For example, Black Ops 2 faced a complete ban in Pakistan due to its depiction of the country, whereas Modern Warfare 2 was subjected to censorship in Russia, eliminating the notorious ‘No Russian’ mission. Similarly, World at War required adjustments to be eligible for release in Germany due to its numerous Nazi references.

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