Social media was abuzz after the announcement that the long-awaited video game Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – which is scheduled to be released this Friday – will not be available in Kuwait.

Reports that Kuwaiti authorities blocked the release of the popular first-person shooter days before its global launch on October 25 have been confirmed by production studio Activision in a statement.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has not been approved for release in Kuwait. At this time, the title will not be available in (the) region,” Activision said.

“As a result, all pre-orders in Kuwait will be canceled and refunded to the original point of purchase. We hope that local authorities will reconsider their decision and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series. “

Set during the First Gulf War, Black Ops 6 is the latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise and revolves around a clandestine force infiltrating the CIA.

The game’s trailer opens with clips of former U.S. President George W. Bush declaring, “The Soviet Union is no more,” followed by a series of stock footage interspersed with digitally altered footage and shots of historical figures such as Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher and Saddam Hussein.

Although no official reason has been given by Kuwaiti authorities, social media users have speculated that the context of the war, which began with Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, was the reason for this ban.

Middle East Eye contacted Kuwaiti officials for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Kuwait has banned the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for “progressive propaganda” because the video game features Saddam Hussein and the first Gulf War. Curious. pic.twitter.com/r6rhSAWLfS

– Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 20, 2024

“Interesting how political sensitivities influence entertainment,” one user posted about the decision.

“I imagined them embarking on a ‘monster of their own making,’ essentially portraying Saddam (Hussein) as a byproduct of America’s unchecked support for Western-friendly dictatorships and America’s desire to selling chemical precursors for Iraq’s chemical weapons program during the war against Iran. Iraq War,” a Redditor shared, as players tried to guess what could have led to the launch delay.

“I want to see how they’re going to capture the story. Will this be the real version or, as usual, will they invent one, presenting themselves as the heroes saving the world? » said a Saudi player on TikTok.

“Will this be the real version or will they – as usual – make one up, presenting themselves as the heroes saving the world?”

– Saudi player on TikTok

A game analyst told The New Arab: “The decision to block this game may seem theatrical, as people will find ways to buy this game if they really want it, whether through a VPN or by paying a price higher on the black market. What is more interesting here is the motivation of the authorities to block a game set in what was a traumatic time for Kuwait: the Gulf War.

“Kuwait, to this day, struggles to engage with this specific moment in history, for better or worse,” he added.

The Gulf War remains a deeply sensitive chapter in Kuwait’s history, the effects of which are still felt today. Under President Saddam Hussein, Iraq invaded the country with around 100,000 troops in hopes of controlling its vast oil resources.

The war lasted 42 days, with a coalition of 42 countries led by the United States forcing Iraqi troops to leave Kuwait, while waging an intense bombing campaign against Iraqi units in Iraq and Kuwait.

An estimated two million landmines were believed to have been planted in Kuwait at the time, and reports indicate that the country’s desert areas “remain contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance”, affecting and killing civilians to this day. .

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The images of burning oil fields in the COD trailer are reminiscent of how Iraqi troops torched some 700 wells, causing a massive ecological and economic blow to the country.

This is not the first time the franchise has faced controversy or been banned in some countries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II included a mission targeting an Iranian military leader named “Ghorbrani” – a mission very similar to the real-life assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, which sparked criticism online.

In 2021, Activision was criticized for a scene in Call of Duty: Zombies of the Vanguardin which pages from the Quran, the Islamic holy book, were scattered on the ground.

At the time, many social media users called for a boycott of the game, which they described as Islamophobic.

The US-based studio apologized and removed the content.