Media: networks allow refusal to sell new Call of Duty due to calls for violence

Russian chains of household appliances and electronics stores may refuse to sell the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which will be released worldwide in November 2023, if it contains scenes calling for violence against Russians. This was announced by the President of the Russian Association of Distributors and Importers of Video Games, Yasha Haddaji, transmits RBC.

“The game contains calls for violence against a Russian citizen, we consider this unacceptable,” he said.

According to Haddaji, the networks previously refused to sell the video game after the publication of a teaser, which contains a scene that can be interpreted as a call for violence against Russians. In it, terrorists plan to hijack a Russian plane and receive an SMS: “No Russian” (“Without Russians.” – Vedomosti). In addition, the main negative character of the game is the Russian Vladimir Makarov.

M.Video-Eldorado informed RBC of its intention to refuse to sell the new part of Call of Duty, DNS, “Buka” and EMSI. DNS believes that “the likelihood of violence against Russian citizens in this game is extremely high,” which is why the game may violate Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (incitement of hatred or enmity). The Buka and EMSI networks stated that they would not sell the game if information about the content of calls for violence against citizens of the Russian Federation is confirmed.

Another distribution channel for the game is marketplaces. IN “Yandex.Market refused to comment; Wildberries and Ozon did not respond to RBC’s request.

As RBC notes, this is not the first time that Call of Duty sales in Russia have been restricted. In 2009, console versions of Modern Warfare 2 were not sold in the country due to a level called No russian (“Not a word in Russian”), in which the gamer participated in an attack on a Russian airport. The PC version was released in Russia, but this level was removed from it.