Call of Duty WWII Pulled from Microsoft Store: Microsoft Store for PC users

One of the most popular franchises in the world of gaming, Call of Duty, has faced a significant setback this week. Activision, the game’s publisher, has quietly removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store for PC users and also taken it down from Xbox Game Pass, raising serious concerns among the gaming community.

Although Activision has not issued a detailed explanation for this sudden move, multiple reports suggest that the removal is linked to a major vulnerability in the PC version of the game — one that was allegedly being exploited by hackers to take control of users’ systems.

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Call of Duty: WWII Offline for PC Gamers – Here’s What We Know

The issue appears to be limited to the PC version of Call of Duty: WWII, which was made available to Game Pass subscribers in June 2025. Shortly after its release, several PC users began reporting suspicious behavior while playing the game. This included system freezes, unauthorized changes to desktop settings, and even potential signs of remote access to their devices.

These alarming user experiences led to speculation that the game might be hosting malicious code or exploits, allowing external actors to access and control user systems without consent. While the console versions remain unaffected and available, Activision has since pulled the PC version from both the Microsoft Store and Game Pass.

User Reports Point to Alarming Intrusion Attempts

On social media platforms and gaming forums, users have shared disturbing experiences. A few players reported that their desktop wallpapers were changed automatically, their input devices froze, and in some cases, the game would crash their system entirely. These symptoms are often associated with unauthorized remote access, which, if true, could indicate a serious zero-day exploit embedded in the game files.

Activision has not publicly addressed these specific user claims, but their swift decision to take the game offline entirely for PC users suggests that the company is treating the situation as a potential security breach.

Was the Issue a Known Vulnerability?

According to one independent security researcher, the Call of Duty: WWII build released on Game Pass this year may have carried an older, unpatched vulnerability that made it easier for attackers to inject malicious code. This would explain how hackers were able to exploit the game so quickly after its release on Game Pass.

Some experts believe that Activision reused legacy game files without revalidating them against modern security threats, a risky move in today’s cybersecurity climate where threat actors are constantly looking for ways to exploit popular software.

Activision Yet to Provide a Full Statement

Despite growing concern among gamers and the media, Activision has yet to issue a comprehensive statement explaining the nature of the vulnerability, how widespread it is, or what steps are being taken to address it.

The publisher has confirmed the game’s removal from all relevant platforms and stated that it is investigating the issue, but hasn’t committed to a timeline for resolution or a potential re-release. This has left many gamers, especially those who had the game installed, frustrated and worried about the safety of their systems.

What About Existing Installations?

One of the biggest concerns right now is regarding players who already had Call of Duty: WWII installed on their PCs before it was taken offline. It remains unclear whether these users are still at risk or if their installed versions were also disabled through server-side patches or updates.

If the exploit was connected to online multiplayer servers, it’s possible that deactivating the servers may have reduced the threat. However, without an official clarification, users are being advised to uninstall the game temporarily, update their antivirus software, and run a full system scan to ensure that no malware or remote-access tools were installed during gameplay.

Call of Duty Titles Still Available – Except WWII

Interestingly, only Call of Duty: WWII has been pulled from the Microsoft Store and Game Pass. Other COD titles, including Modern Warfare II, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard, remain available for download and play, suggesting that the vulnerability is specific to WWII and not part of a broader threat affecting the entire franchise.

What Happens Next?

It’s been almost a week since the issue was first reported, and players are still waiting for more details. Until Activision issues a transparent security advisory and confirms that the vulnerability has been patched, it’s unlikely that the game will return to online platforms.

For now, Activision seems to be focused on damage control, and rightly so — this may be one of the first major instances where a AAA game was reportedly exploited to gain remote control of players’ systems.

Final Thoughts

The Call of Duty: WWII removal incident serves as a wake-up call for the entire gaming industry. With the growing size and complexity of modern games, cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought — especially when games are re-released years later through digital stores and subscription services.

Gamers are hoping for a quick fix and a transparent explanation. Until then, PC players will need to wait — and stay alert.

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