Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 3‘s collaboration event with Prime Video’s hit series The Boys has come under fire following shocking revelations about the show’s newest supe, Firecracker.
The Firecracker Operator Bundle allows players to take on the controversy-spewing supe’s role in-game, but the character’s disturbing history revealed in The Boys‘s latest episode has fans questioning the appropriateness of her inclusion in Activision’s lucrative franchise.
Note: Spoilers for Season 4, Episode 4 Ahead
Firecracker’s Troubling Past Sparks Backlash in Call of Duty
In the latest episode of Season 4, titled “Wisdom of the Ages,” it is revealed that Firecracker engaged in an inappropriate intimate relationship with a 15-year-old boy while working as a 28-year-old Christian camp counsellor. This information, combined with her unstable personality and penchant for spreading dangerous conspiracy theories, has cast the character in a deeply unsettling light.
As news of the character’s backstory spread, Call of Duty fans took to social media to express their outrage and concern over the character’s presence in the game. X user @2k18hoodmoments posted an image of the in-game cosmetic bundle, bluntly stating:
Firecracker is the first pedophile character in Call Of Duty pic.twitter.com/KnlY2VooYj
— John Cash (@2k18hoodmoments) June 20, 2024
However, another user, @MoonMen62915753, was quick to point out in a reply that Firecracker may not be the first problematic character featured in the franchise. They promptly corrected the previous tweet with a picture of the infamous Jonathan Irons from Advanced Warfare, played by Kevin Spacey—another individual embroiled in a similar controversy.
Concerns Over the Timing of the Crossover
The timing of the collaboration has also raised questions about whether Activision had prior knowledge of Firecracker’s storyline or if the revelation caught even them off guard.
Do you think the devs knew beforehand? 🤔
— ૮₍˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶₎ა (@theiconicashley) June 21, 2024
The fact that the operator bundle has been available in the game since January 2024, a full five months before the character’s past was exposed on the show, has only added fuel to the controversy. It raises questions about the level of communication and coordination between the game developers and the show’s creators.
This isn’t the first time The Boys‘ “Super-abled” characters have stirred up controversy in their crossovers. The previous Homelander operator bundle had already received criticism for placing players in the shoes of an increasingly violent, psychotic, unambiguous villain and fascist.
However, to some fans, the character’s actions feel even more egregious, considering the game’s young player base. It begs the question of whether the developers were aware of the direction her character would take when green-lighting the crossover.
As the show continues its biting satire of American politics, media, and superhero culture, Firecracker is set to be a lightning rod for controversy. While the show’s mature audience can appreciate the nuanced, unflinching depiction of the character’s darker aspects, it’s an entirely different story when a mainstream video game played by children actively promotes and glorifies such a problematic figure.
As the controversy continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen how Activision will address the growing concerns surrounding this ill-conceived crossover event.
What do you think about the operator bundle controversy? Should this franchise be more selective with their crossover characters in light of these revelations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
