Activision chose to censor Russian MW2

By Oli Welsh Published 17 November, 2009

Our decision to axe airport scene, it says.

Activision has confirmed the removal of the controversial airport scene from the Russian version of Modern Warfare 2, and said the move was its own decision.

"Other countries have formal ratings boards that we regularly work with. However, Russia does not have a formal ratings entity. As a result, we chose to block the scene after seeking the advice of local counsel," the company told Eurogamer in a statement. Modern Warfare 2 is currently only available on PC in the country.

Activision was moving to clear up reports that the game had been banned or censored by the Russian government. There are claims that the console versions of the game have been recalled from retailers so the airport scene can be removed.

"Reports that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been banned in Russia are erroneous.  Activision only released a PC version of the game in Russia which went on sale on Tuesday, 10th November," the company said.

The scene in question, titled "No Russian", depicts Russian ultranationalist terrorists massacring civilians in an airport with the player's help.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (35) 7 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • andromeda #1 2 years ago

    when will the COD wankathon cease!

    overhyped, unwhelming expansion pack.

  • Crembo #2 2 years ago

    No you didn't, stop lying IW (or Activision, for that matter).
    Edited by 1 at 17/11/09 @ 11:40

  • Rirekon #3 2 years ago

    Really not sure what the fuss is about that scene, it's certainly no more (if not less) disturbing than many other games which allow the killing of innocents. To be honest the Specter Gunship in MW had more impact, that one felt a little too real.

  • Unclebenny #4 2 years ago

    Are we assuming everyones played this level now? It was incredibly hard to keep that level a suprise.

    To counter andromeda's well put criticims:

    I like COD, it is good.

  • Zidargh #5 2 years ago

    Was I the only one that did not find the Specter Gunship level moving? If anything I was bored by it. Call me desensitized.

  • kangarootoo #6 2 years ago

    "No you didn't, stop lying IW (or Activision, for that matter)."

    Think it through for 2 seconds.

    1. Why would they lie? To annoy you? Because they are evil (in the AD&D sense, where they just do evil stuff for no real reason)?
    2. If they did lie, surely they would know that the truth would out in a matter of hours.

    Of course they aren't bloody lying.

  • skillian #7 2 years ago

    Was I the only one that did not find the Specter Gunship level moving?

    It was amazingly realistic and that certainly stood out, but I didn't find it moving. Didn't find the airport scene moving either. Maybe I'm just a cold-hearted emotionless cynic.

  • b00n #8 2 years ago

    If they're lying or not, don't care. I do think it's a bit of a strange and weak decision to censor themselves without any real objective reason to do that. And of course their 'counsel' will have advised that as it only wants to avoid any risk.

  • skillian #9 2 years ago

    And of course their 'counsel' will have advised that as it only wants to avoid any risk.

    That sounds like an objective reason to me.

  • JahB #10 2 years ago

    overhyped, unwhelming expansion pack.

    if you really believe that you know 0 about video games.

  • penhalion #11 2 years ago

    The russian government and people will not have taken kindly to being the bad guys in a clearly american game so I'm guessing that Activision were told in no uncertain terms to change it or face the consequences. There is zero other reason why any company incurs additional costs seemingly out of the goodness of their hearts. It's especially unlikely because there simply can't be that many sales of the game in russia.

  • Xerx3s #12 2 years ago

    kangarootoo: Both activision and IW are not above telling porkies if recent weeks are anything to go by.

  • thedaveeyres #13 2 years ago

    In Soviet Russia, civilians massacre YOU!!

  • JayScott #14 2 years ago

    @ andromeda

    Then it's the best damn expansion pack I've ever played. Overhyped, maybe. But expansion pack? You're kidding yourself.

  • Kazzahdrane #15 2 years ago

    @andromeda:

    Don't tell me, L4D2 is an expansion pack too. There's nothing long about CoD4 and this one isn't any shorter. Bigger multiplayer and the co-op Spec Ops missions areincredible!

  • kangarootoo #16 2 years ago

    "kangarootoo: Both activision and IW are not above telling porkies if recent weeks are anything to go by."

    I deal with these things on a case by case basis, and in this specific case, common sense suggests they aren't lying. There is no motive for doing so, and they would know that the lie would be discovered in moments. It simply makes no sense.

  • Redeye #17 2 years ago

    kanga: In all honesty, mate, I'd have to counter that; if the Russian authorities (governmental or otherwise) have stepped in and threatened to ban the title because of this particular piece of content, it certainly isn't beyond Activision's PR to throw out some positive spin in an attempt to save both corporate face and regional marketshare.

    But if, in fact, Activision pulled it beforehand, before or without any hue and cry from the Russians, ask yourself one question - knowing full well that the title would be sold in that market and the ramifications that would undoubtedly ensue, why even bother incorporating it in the first place?

    Not trying to don any tin-foil hats, but it certainly strikes me that Activision have had their wrists slapped here, and are attempting a bit of damage limitation.
    Edited by 1 at 17/11/09 @ 12:33

  • Bigglesworth #18 2 years ago

    Activision fearin' a nukin'. Don't poke the Great Bear.

  • kangarootoo #19 2 years ago

    @Redeye

    I'm not saying it is beyond the abilities of IW to fib about it, but again I say that a lie like this would be found out easily and IW/Act would know that.

    As for incoporating it in the first place, I don't expect anyone to get everything right first time. If the scene is in the game build for most regions, it is quite natural that it would be included in the game build for Russia, if only to start with.

    If they then (perhaps in response to the public interest in the issue) sought further advice from a Russian councel (nobody, including Acty, is saying they had no contact with them) that suggested public outcry in Russia might be problematic it is perfectly feasible that they might change their mind about the inclusion to avoid future problems.


    What part of that seems so unlikely? I'm not saying its impossible that this story isn't true, but the facts heavily suggest it is true. Certainly we have no grounds for kneejerk "No you didn't, stop lying IW" from someone who doesn't even appear to be able to decide which company that are complaining about.

    This whole thing has occam's razor written ALL over it.

  • makeamazing #20 2 years ago

    Taking the airport level out will make for an even shorter SP experience... unlucky gamers in Russia... but to be honest the level is pretty rubbish anyway so they are probably better off without it :)

  • superted1974 #21 2 years ago

    The plot would make even less sense if they just chop this out!

  • Bremenacht #22 2 years ago

    "Other countries have formal ratings boards that we regularly work with. However, Russia does not have a formal ratings entity, but uses threats instead. As a result, we chose to block the scene after being told we'd be tied up and dropped down a mine-shaft during our next visit to Russia," the company didn't tell Eurogamer in a statement.

  • TafKas #23 2 years ago

    Surely without that scene its now going to look like the russians invaded the US because they were bored?

  • Golgo #24 2 years ago

    Quite right to remove the scene. Pure fiction. Russians never massacre other Russians. Never have, never will...

  • mingster #25 2 years ago

    Good im glad they cut it out.
    Last thing we need is the ruskies taking offence and declaring WWIII over a video game.

  • UKLL #26 2 years ago


    Methinks somebody from Activision is going to get a generous dose of polonium-210 in their tea.

  • Immaterial #27 2 years ago

    One lump or two?

  • kangarootoo #28 2 years ago

    What the emote for crying again?

  • spekkeh #29 2 years ago

    So, we've been talking about this scene for the entire week now. Well done IW. /sarcasm

  • melch #30 2 years ago

    im surprised they havent offered players in russia who do want to play this level a chance to download it as DLC for a monthly fee.....

    missed opportunity by acti......

  • Wolverfrog #31 2 years ago

    So now, rather than not having to kill innocent civilians which conveys an important element of the plot, Russian gamers will believe that their country invaded America for no reason?

    That really makes no sense.

  • tomkuryakin #32 2 years ago

    "In Soviet Russia, civilians massacre you!"

    I didn't realise that MW2 was set in the 1980s.

    Or in other words for the hard of thinking, what has Soviet Russia got to do with this?

  • Salaminizer #33 2 years ago

    @tomkuryakin: a TACTICAL FACEPALM for you

  • menschenfracht #34 2 years ago

    tee-hee - now they're addressing the letter of protest from Ministry of Internal Affairs as 'an advice of local council'...

  • james-mw3-mw3 #35 7 months ago

    Modern Warfare 3 will be released on 8th November! It's actually the 8th main Call of Duty game, and the fifth developed by Infinity Ward. Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer will debut at the Call of Duty XP convention on September 2 and I'm betting that they will show all the weapons and perks of MW3.