Xbox Angers Fans Over Start-Up Call of Duty Ad

Microsoft is all in on Activision-Blizzard games now that it owns the large umbrella of video game studios. While Xbox has had ads for months on its consoles, people are venting their anger on social media over a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ad. The screen gives a poster of the game with buttons to either purchase the base game, upgrade to the Vault Edition, or exit the ad.

Xbox Ad for Call of Duty Has Upset People

Looking up “Xbox ad” on X, formerly Twitter, brings up plenty of people discussing the start-up screen that showcases the latest Call of Duty installment. User Nickdebruyne wrote that the “full screen console takeover ads like this [Modern Warfare 3] are not welcome, nor are they okay.” Some had straightforward feelings about it, as user Marble19841 called it “f—ing terrible,” even for not being an Xbox owner. User and YouTuber Doc_Dark1985 wrote, “Are you out of your ffing mind @Xbox?!!”

Not everyone was mad about it. Some have poked fun at those who are mad, like user PeterOvo, who said those who are upset need to “get a life.” Other people have pointed out that you can simply click Exit or press the B button to come out of it. Spawn on Me founder Kahlief Adams wrote that it “took longer to tweet about this than to just hit exit.”

With the acquisition and regulatory process in the rearview mirror, Xbox is looking to leverage its ownership of ABK, like by having an ad on its platform for Call of Duty. While the shooter will not be exclusive, including skins and DLC, for future installments, the company has other ways to make it more tantalizing to purchase on its consoles.

The company has not responded to the negative reception. As noted before, this is not the first time it has had ads when people boot up their consoles. Other major releases like Forza Motorsport had ads to give awareness to its release last month.