If you were planning to play Sledgehammer Games’ 2017 game, Call of Duty: WWII, through PC Game Pass or the Microsoft Store this holiday weekend, I regret to inform you that it’s unavailable. The Call of Duty team has confirmed they’ve shut down the PC version due to “reports of a problem.
On July 5, 2025, the PC version of Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store momentarily went offline due to our team investigating a reported problem.
The problem with the Windows version of Call of Duty: WWII isn’t just an issue; it’s a full-blown invasion by RCE hackers. These malicious players have found a way to exploit the system, enabling them to run code on another player’s computer without consent. This unauthorized access can lead to the installation of harmful software and potentially dangerous code, increasing the risk of data leaks, security breaches, and other vulnerabilities.
On July 2nd, I started noticing an issue with several Call of Duty games after they were brought back online following maintenance. It wasn’t long before players started reporting an exploit on social media. This exploit allowed remote hackers to take control of my PC, as evidenced by the videos and screenshots that affected players began sharing.
In simpler terms, it’s no secret within the Call of Duty community that older game titles are frequently hacked. Players tend to steer clear of these games on Steam. Although Activision keeps the mainline Call of Duty servers running indefinitely, they don’t put much effort into ensuring the security of those servers once they shift focus to their next premium release.
As a tech enthusiast, I must say, reintroducing classic Call of Duty (COD) titles on Xbox and PC Game Pass has been a game-changer. It’s brought in a flood of fresh faces, as well as those who’ve returned to the franchise. The allure? The reassurance that these vintage games are now under the umbrella of Microsoft, the current owner of Call of Duty’s publisher, Activision.
RCE exploits (which are methods of taking control of a system remotely) pose a risk only for those who subscribe to Game Pass and play the Windows version of Call of Duty: WWII. This is because Xbox consoles, though they share some similarities with Windows, operate on a more restricted version of the Windows kernel (the core part of an operating system that manages resources and handles system calls). As such, RCEs are less effective as hacking tools on Xbox systems compared to their counterparts on fuller versions of Windows like Windows 11.
It appears that taking the Windows version of Call of Duty: WWII offline hasn’t helped much in calming the game’s community, as players continue to express their annoyance over the Call of Duty team’s lack of clarity regarding the Remote Code Execution (RCE) issue.
Got this message while playing COD WWII from r/WWII
The team’s post on their Call of Duty Updates social media platforms merely stated that the game would be temporarily offline for investigating a problem they’d received reports about. They didn’t mention anything regarding the RCE exploit or the possible risks players may have encountered while playing the game over the past few days.
As more Call of Duty games are anticipated to be integrated into Xbox and PC Game Pass collections, there is growing worry among the gaming community that older games may not receive necessary security updates before they’re added to the service. This could leave a vast number of novice players vulnerable to hackers without any prior notification.
Even though Call of Duty: WWII is currently offline, you can still download it on Xbox PC or the Microsoft Store. Unfortunately, Sledgehammer Games, developers of WWII, along with other Call of Duty studios like Raven Software and High Moon, were among those impacted by Microsoft’s recent round of layoffs. The specific number of employees affected from these studios hasn’t been disclosed yet. It’s uncertain if the layoffs will influence the support for older Call of Duty games once they become available on Game Pass.
Fortunately, if you’re eagerly anticipating playing Call of Duty: WWII, you can indeed do so on an Xbox. Alternatively, there’s the option to savor some extra experience points (XP) in Black Ops 6.
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2025-07-05 06:09