Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass get new titles on a regular basis, and it’s always exciting when a major AAA release from a big franchise joins the lineup. However, Call of Duty: WWII might be one you’ll want to skip for now.
As promised, the FPS from Activision and Sledgehammer Games was added to Microsoft’s digital library at the end of June. When it first became available at no extra cost, hundreds of players jumped in to check it out. But not long after, it was quietly pulled from the Microsoft Store on PC due to serious security concerns.
It’s not unusual for older Call of Duty games to attract hackers and cheaters. Most of the time, that just means players using third-party software to see through walls or fly around the map (annoying, but manageable). The problem with WWII on PC, though, goes a lot deeper.
Call of Duty: WWII on PC was hit by RCE attacks, putting players at risk
According to multiple reports, the 2017 title became the target of Remote Code Execution (RCE) attacks, an exploit that allows hackers to inject malicious code into a player’s computer and take control of it remotely. This kind of vulnerability can be used to steal personal information or install ransomware, making it far more dangerous than your typical cheating software.
Thankfully, it seems the people behind these attacks have mostly been trying to pull pranks and spook players rather than cause real harm, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to brush off.
Over the past few days, videos have surfaced demonstrating how the hack works. In one clip, streamer Wrioh was targeted while live: his session froze, a message popped up saying, “I just hit you with an RCE,” and closing it revealed his desktop wallpaper had been changed to a picture of a lawyer.
The cybersecurity group VX-Underground has shared more screenshots of these alleged attacks. In one, a hacker boldly declares, “Your PC is mine now.” The lawyer image that keeps popping up as a wallpaper is rumored to be a photo of an attorney hired by Activision to go after video game cheaters.
Activision pulls Call of Duty: WWII from PC amid security fears
Naturally, all of this has caused concern and confusion in the community. Even if the people behind the hacks claim they’re just messing around, the reality is that affected computers are still wide open to data theft, malware, and worse.
Activision has acknowledged the situation and, a few days ago, removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store on PC while it investigates. So far, the company hasn’t shared any further updates, and it’s unclear when the game will return to PC Game Pass.
It’s worth noting that WWII is still available for purchase on Steam and Battle.net, but players are strongly advised to steer clear until the developers release a patch to make sure it’s safe to play on PC.