Kuwait has refused to allow the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in the country, leading Activision to cancel all preorders. Refunds are being offered at the original point of purchase. In a statement, Activision confirmed that the game "has not been approved for release" in Kuwait and will not be available on October 25 in the region. "We remain hopeful that local authorities will reconsider, and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series," Activision said.
The specific reason for Kuwait's disapproval of Black Ops 6 remains unclear. However, some speculate that it may be related to the game's portrayal of the Middle East, as Black Ops 6's campaign centers around the Gulf War. Advertisements for the game have featured Saddam Hussein, leading many to believe the campaign could depict the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait that initiated the Gulf War. This is not the first time a Black Ops game has faced regional restrictions; Black Ops 2 was previously banned in Pakistan after store owners complained that the game depicted the country as a training ground for terrorism.
Activision could potentially edit or censor Black Ops 6 to satisfy local authorities in Kuwait, as they have done in the past. For instance, Activision removed the "No Russian" mission from Modern Warfare 2 to comply with Russian authorities, and references to Nazis were removed from World at War for the German release. Whether Activision will make such adjustments for Kuwait remains uncertain.
Some developers choose not to compromise on their creative vision and cancel a game's release in specific regions if a country's ratings board denies it. For example, Krafton canceled The Callisto Protocol's release in Japan, stating they were unwilling to edit the game for creative reasons. Other studios have found creative ways to navigate local rules. For instance, South Park: The Stick of Truth was censored in Australia and Germany due to scenes involving anal-probing, abortion, and swastikas. During censored scenes, an image of a statute making a face-palming gesture appears, along with text describing what would have been seen in the uncensored version. In Australia, the game used an image of a crying koala during the probing scene, leaving it up to the players' imagination.
Black Ops 6 is set to launch on October 25 and will be available on Game Pass at launch. However, you must be an Ultimate subscriber, as Microsoft has recently discontinued the $1 trial offer.
