This Classic Call of Duty Title Has Returned to the Microsoft Store

After being removed from the Microsoft Store for 41 days, Call of Duty: WWII has officially returned to the digital storefront, bringing back memories for fans of Sledgehammer Games' 2017 mainline entry to the Call of Duty franchise.

The news comes after Activision announced that the game would be taken offline in June due to rampant "Remote Code Execution" hacks. These exploits allowed hackers to execute code on a player's PC remotely, potentially installing malware and leading to data breaches and security vulnerabilities.

Only the Windows edition of Call of Duty: WWII available on the Microsoft Store was impacted by these exploits, with Xbox consoles utilizing a modified Windows Kernel preventing them from being affected. Other editions of the game on Battle.net and Steam seemed unaffected, however.

The removal of Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store was seen as an effort to gradually introduce older titles into the Xbox Game Pass service. However, this has proven to be a challenge, with many of the titles needing to be ported to the Microsoft Store.

Activision's acquisition by Microsoft has led to efforts to reintroduce the 20-plus-year franchise's past releases into the Xbox Game Pass service. Despite this, some titles have been plagued with hacks even on console, raising concerns about the security of older games.

A Changing Landscape for Call of Duty

Call of Duty: WWII's return to the Microsoft Store comes at a time when the community is eagerly awaiting the release of Treyarch and Raven Software's upcoming title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The game has already sparked controversy among fans, with concerns over its near-futuristic storyline and potentially siphoning players away from newer releases.

Players have also expressed disdain for the increasingly absurd operator skins in recent Call of Duty games, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's abundance of cel-shaded and crossover bundles. This sentiment has led to Treyarch and Raven Software pulling support for Carry Forward in Black Ops 7.

A New Era for Call of Duty

The community's opinion of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 seems to be a mixed bag, with some fans eagerly anticipating the game's multiplayer reveal. However, others are skeptical about the direction of the franchise, citing concerns over its shift towards more futuristic gameplay.

With the COD NEXT showcase on September 30, the community will have to wait and see how this new direction for Call of Duty plays out. In the meantime, fans can once again safely revisit Call of Duty: WWII on PC via the Microsoft Store.

Cole is the resident Call of Duty know-it-all and indie game enthusiast for Windows Central. She's a lifelong artist with two decades of experience in digital painting, and she will happily talk your ear off about budget pen displays.