Today is a big day for video game enthusiasts with Microsoft’s ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ set to be released globally on October 25th. Fans worldwide of this gaming saga, which was first released on October 25, 2003, have been waiting for this new version.

However, Kuwaiti fans of this game will have to wait longer. That’s because authorities in the small oil-rich country banned the film because it is set during the 1990 Gulf War and portrays Iraq’s late dictator Saddam Hussein.

So why did this lead to the popular video game being banned? We bring the answers to you.

No Call of Duty in Kuwait

Although Kuwait has not officially announced the video game’s official ban, developers Activision confirmed in a statement that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not be available in Kuwait.

“All pre-orders in Kuwait will be canceled and returned to the original point of purchase,” the company said. “We hope that local authorities will reconsider the matter and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this brand new experience in the Black Ops series.”

When access point He approached the Kuwaiti Ministry of Media for comment but received no response. However, the decision to ban the game was due to the fact that the game contained visuals from the 1990 Gulf War and
Saddam Hussein.

The ‘unofficial’ ban of the game has led to many enthusiasts commenting on it. One gaming analyst said: New Arab: “The move to block this game may seem theatrical because if people really want this game they will find ways to buy it, whether through a VPN or by paying a high price on the black market. What’s even more interesting here is that authorities are blocking a game set in the Gulf War, a traumatic time for Kuwait.” “To this day, Kuwait has difficulty connecting with that particular moment in history, for better or worse.”

The apparent ban comes because the game is partly set in the 1990s Gulf War and follows CIA operatives fighting the United States in the West Asian region. Trailers for the game show burning oil fields; It’s a stark reminder for Kuwaitis who have seen Iraqi forces set fire to their territory, causing massive ecological and economic damage.

The game also includes images of many world leaders of the period, such as Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton and Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s old three-star flag is also included in the footage of the match. Additionally, the game’s popular multiplayer section includes a desert skirmish in Kuwait, called Scud after the Soviet missiles Hussein fired in battle.

Gulf War and Kuwait

Gulf War It is a particularly sensitive issue for Kuwait and brings back many bad memories for the country’s people.

On August 2, 1990, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait with the aim of seizing the country’s large oil reserves and expanding Iraq’s power in the region. This led to the Gulf War, which lasted nearly seven months and killed thousands of people.

It is estimated that up to 100,000 people died in the war, five million were displaced, and over $200 billion worth of property was damaged. It is stated that during the occupation of Kuwait, Iraqi soldiers launched a systematic campaign of looting, rape, torture, murder and theft in Kuwait. The Gulf War was also Iraq’s large-scale use of mines. It is estimated that a total of 1.65 million mines were removed.

The Gulf War also caused half of Kuwait’s population to flee the country. While many returned in 1991, non-citizens, especially Palestinians, were barred from returning.

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

Not the first controversy for Call of Duty

Launched in 2003, Call of Duty is a first-person shooter game set in various conflicts in recent history. He’s made millions of dollars over the years, but he’s also had his share of controversies.

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

In 2021, Activision came under fire for a scene in Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies in which pages of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, are 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 issued an apology and removed the content.

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

The game is also banned in China. This comes after the trailer for Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War featured real-life historical documentary footage, including the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Call of Duty first came under criticism in Russia in 2009 due to the ‘No Russians’ mission in the game. The mission in the game became controversial because it allowed players to participate in a terrorist attack that killed civilians at a Russian airport.

It was criticized by many as “ridiculous”, and Russian authorities censored the game, stating that it contained high levels of violence.

With input from agencies