CoD: WWII returns to the Microsoft Store and Xbox after a 41-day unplanned, controversial removal. Here’s why.

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The classic Call of Duty: WWII is now back on the Microsoft Store (and available through PC Game Pass), following its absence of 41 days.

2017’s primary Call of Duty release by Sledgehammer Games, titled Call of Duty: WWII, generated a splash in late June upon being included in Xbox and PC Game Pass. Not long afterwards, Activision revealed that the game would be temporarily taken offline for PC users as they looked into an ongoing issue.

The action-packed game, Call of Duty: WWII, can now be purchased through the Microsoft Store. Check it out here: [Microsoft Store Link]

The primary concern involved a high number of instances where players’ computers were infiltrated, enabling hackers to run code from afar during Call of Duty: WII gameplay. Affected players posted screenshots and videos on social media platforms, showcasing their systems being commandeered while engaged in the game.

Potentially, these exploits might give hackers the opportunity to plant harmful software or malicious code. Such situations could potentially lead to data leaks and expose security weaknesses.

Just to clarify, only the version of Call of Duty: WWII available on the Microsoft Store for Windows was impacted by the RCE exploits that led to its temporary removal. However, since Xbox consoles use a modified Windows Kernel, the console edition of the game remained unscathed by this issue. The versions of the game available on Battle.net and Steam appear to have been untouched as well.

After Activision Blizzard King (ABK), the publisher of Call of Duty, was acquired by Microsoft, an attempt is being made to progressively add the 20-year-old franchise’s previous versions to the Xbox Game Pass library. This has turned out to be difficult, though, as several titles need to be adapted for the Microsoft Store before they can be included.

For a number of years, the release of Call of Duty was confined exclusively to Activision’s personal computer store, Battle.net.

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed something unique about Activision compared to many other publishers: instead of shutting down servers for older Call of Duty titles, they usually stop supporting them a year after launch. This summer, Activision surprise-released a significant update for several older CoD games, fueling excitement among the community that these classics might soon join Xbox Game Pass.

Among those titles, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from Infinity Ward (2009) and Call of Duty: Black Ops by Treyarch (2012), also encounter hacking issues on consoles. However, the RCE exploits in Call of Duty: WWII appear to be more widespread than these issues.

Attempting to migrate classic Call of Duty games onto the Microsoft Store and making them available on Xbox Game Pass might potentially lead to complications in Activision’s schedule for releasing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, a project by Treyarch and Raven Software, this year.

By adding classic game titles to Game Pass, there’s a chance that players may be drawn away from the latest release, given its innovative, futuristic narrative which some players are already apprehensive about.

It’s possible that innovative movements such as wall-jumping and boost-jumping could signal a shift away from the traditional “feet on the ground” gameplay style that Call of Duty has consistently maintained since Modern Warfare (2019).

As a researcher, I’ve noticed a growing dissatisfaction among players regarding the exaggerated operator skins in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Specifically, they have voiced their concerns about the abundance of cel-shaded and crossover bundles that include characters from shows like Beavis and Butthead, American Dad, and others. This widespread disapproval eventually led Treyarch and Raven Software to reconsider their support for Carry Forward in Black Ops 7.

Currently, the public’s views on Black Ops 7 are somewhat divided, as its multiplayer features have not been completely unveiled just yet. However, once the COD NEXT showcase on September 30 takes place, their opinions could shift significantly.

For gamers who find themselves repeatedly defeated by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, there’s good news! They can now enjoy playing Call of Duty: WWII on their PCs without fear of defeat.

How did the Community respond to the temporary removal of Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store?

Upon the sudden disappearance of Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store not long after its Game Pass launch, this action sparked a ripple of bewilderment and apprehension.

Initially, Activision only mentioned an undisclosed problem, but it wasn’t long before it was discovered that the PC version available on Microsoft’s store suffered from numerous Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities. These types of weaknesses can potentially allow malicious users to seize control of a player’s computer, install harmful software, or even cause more serious problems.

The social media platforms were flooded with videos and snapshots of systems that appeared to be breached, and the absence of timely, comprehensive information from the platform provider caused a lot of anxiety among users.

Over a span of 41 days, there was much debate and speculation. Some players advised friends to avoid it completely, while others wondered why only the Microsoft Store version (rather than Steam or Battle.net) seemed to be impacted. There remain concerns about the security of older Call of Duty games on Game Pass, with worries that similar issues might be present in other classic versions as well.

Upon its return, with fixes applied and playable once more, a blend of relief and caution was palpable. Enthusiasts, eager to re-experience the 2017 shooter, dived back in, but some remained guarded, their trust slightly dented by the exploit, as well as the prolonged silence that had ensued.

Currently, World War II is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, yet this period piece serves as an enduring warning that even cherished oldies may still present contemporary dangers.

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2025-09-02 23:12