In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare a particular killstreak is currently causing controversy. It concerns the phosphorus incendiary bomb that you can drop over the battlefield.
What is the issue with the killstreak? Recently, the developers of Modern Warfare announced which killstreaks can be earned in multiplayer. Killstreaks are special items and actions that you can use when you get a lot of kills without dying in between.
Among the items and actions were a tank, heavy body armor, and an airstrike with a phosphorus bomb.
Players criticize alleged double standards of the developers
What is the problem with the phosphorus bomb? Diverse players on social networks are bitter about the phosphorus bomb. Such bombs have been used since the two World Wars as highly effective but cruel incendiary devices.
Phosphorus ignites upon contact with air, is difficult to extinguish and causes particularly gruesome injuries and deaths due to the high heat of the fire and the highly toxic smoke. Therefore, phosphorus bombs and their use are controversial.
Since Modern Warfare strives to depict the horrors of modern warfare in its single-player campaign, some critics have a problem with how casually the game introduces such cruel weapons as mere “reward items” for massive kills in multiplayer:
- Lewis White writes on Twitter: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – We want to tell a meaningful story about the horrors of war. Also in CoD Modern Warfare – In multiplayer you can drop phosphorus bombs when you have killed enough people!”
- E350 After Dark via Twitter: “I love that an option here simply allows war crimes.”
- Eva Cantor on Twitter: “It horrifies me that people in the West have become so barbaric and desensitized to the most vile forms of violence that phosphorus bombs are just a cool, fun video game thing.”
What does the other side say about it? In contrast, fans of the game contradict, seeing a clear distinction between multiplayer and campaign, and perceive the phosphorus bomb simply as a killstreak effect without greater significance.
No one is forced to use the killstreak, and besides, it’s all just a game. A user notes on Twitter that the military use of phosphorus is still not prohibited and thus completely legitimate in the game.
A statement from the developers on the matter has yet to be released. There have been controversies in the past regarding the subject of war in Modern Warfare:
