Why Kuwait has banned Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 video game

It’s a big day for enthusiasts of video games, namely Microsoft’s ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’, which is set to be released across the world today — October 25. Fans across the world of this gaming saga, which was first released in 2003, are awaiting this new version.

However, Kuwaiti fans of this game will have to wait longer. That’s because the authorities in the tiny oil-rich nation have banned it as it is set during the 1990 Gulf War and owing to its portrayal of late Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein.

But why has this led to a ban on the popular video game? We get you the answers.

No Call of Duty in Kuwait

While Kuwait has not officially announced a formal ban on the videogame, the developers, Activision, in a statement, confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not be available in Kuwait.

“All pre-orders in Kuwait will be cancelled and refunded to the original point of purchase,” the company said. “We remain hopeful that local authorities will reconsider and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series.”

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When AP reached out to Kuwait’s Media Ministry for a comment, there was no response. However, the decision to ban the game aligns with the fact that it features visuals of the 1990 Gulf War and Saddam Hussein .

The ‘unofficial’ ban of the game has led to many enthusiasts commenting on it. One gaming analyst told the New Arab: “The move to block this game may seem theatrical because people will find ways to buy this game if they really want it, whether via VPN or pay a premium price in the black market. What’s more interesting here is the motivation of the authorities to block a game set in what was a traumatic period for Kuwait - the Gulf War. “Kuwait, to this day, has difficulty engaging with that specific moment in history, for good or ill.”

The apparent ban comes as the game is set, in part, in the 1990s Gulf War and follows CIA operators fighting in the US and the West Asia region. Trailers from the game show burning oil fields — a stark reminder for Kuwaitis who saw Iraqi forces set fire to their fields, causing vast ecological and economic damage.

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The game also features visuals of several world leaders of that time such as Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, and Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s old three-star flag also appears in footage of the game. Additionally, the game’s popular multiplayer section includes what appears to be a desert shootout in Kuwait, called Scud after the Soviet missiles Hussein fired in the war.

The Gulf War and Kuwait

The Gulf War is a particularly sensitive topic for Kuwait and evokes several bad memories for the people of the country.

On August 2, 1990, a Saddam Hussein-led Iraq invaded Kuwait, with the apparent aim of acquiring that nation’s large oil reserves and expanding Iraqi power in the region. This led to a nearly seven-month-long Gulf War, which saw the deaths of thousands of people.

It is estimated that as many as 100,000 people died, five million were displaced and over $200 billion worth of property was damaged in the war. It is reported that during the occupation of Kuwait, Iraqi troops began a systematic campaign of pillage, rape, torture, murder, and theft in Kuwait. The Gulf War also Iraq’s wide-scale use of landmines. It is estimated that a whopping 1.65 million mines were removed.

The Gulf War also led to half the population of Kuwait fleeing the country. While many returned in 1991, non-nationals, especially Palestinians, were prohibited from coming back.

The war ended in February 1991 after Iraqi forces pulled out from Kuwait after US-led coalition forces defeated them. This was the largest military alliance since World War II, with the bulk of the military power coming from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Egypt.

Not the first controversy for Call of Duty

Call of Duty, which began in 2003, is a first-person shooter game set across various conflicts in recent history. It has made millions of dollars over the years but has also had its fair share of controversies.

Earlier, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II included a mission targeting an Iranian military leader named “Ghorbrani”. This hit home for Iran, as it bore a resemblance to the real-life assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. This led to an unofficial ban on the game in Tehran.

In 2021, Activision came under fire for a scene in Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies, in which pages from the Quran, the Islamic holy book, were scattered on the floor. At the time, many social media users called for a boycott of the game, which they called Islamophobic. The US-based studio issued an apology and removed the content.

Pakistan also banned Call of Duty: Black Ops II in 2013 after it showed the country’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as supporting Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

The game was also prohibited in China. This came after the trailer of Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War featured real-life historical documentary footage, including that of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Call of Duty first came under fire in 2009 in Russia owing to the ‘No Russian’ mission in the game. The mission in the game became controversial as it allowed players to take part in a terrorist attack at a Russian airport, killing civilians.

It was criticised by many as “nonsensical” and Russian authorities censored it stating the game’s high level of violence.

With inputs from agencies