After facing intense backlash for issuing a cease and desist order against the H2M community mod—which aimed to create a large-scale multiplayer remake of the 2009 release of Modern Warfare 2 just after the remake of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare went off sale on Steam, Activision is once again under scrutiny.
This time, they are accused of plagiarizing the design for a gun recently introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023). Brandon Herrera, a well-known YouTuber and firearm expert, claims that the game developers used his custom-designed firearm, the “AK-50,” in the latest season of the game without his permission
The in-game weapon, named the JAK Cataclysm, closely resembles Herrera’s AK-50, sparking outrage in both the gaming and firearm communities. In a recent YouTube video, Herrera provided evidence showing that the JAK Cataclysm in the game strongly mirrors his distinctive design.
The AK-50 is a unique rifle, the only one of its kind in the world. Brandon, who owns a gun company called The AK Guy Inc., is dedicated to manufacturing and customizing firearms.
The AK-50 represents his dream of creating a Kalashnikov rifle capable of firing .50-caliber BMG rounds. Among his followers, the AK-50 is recognized as a symbol of his technical expertise and passion for firearm innovation.
In his video, Herrera highlights the striking similarities between his AK-50 and the JAK Cataclysm featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Season 5. “It’s not just similar,” Herrera asserts. “It’s a direct recreation of the AK-50 that I built. They’ve changed the name to JAK Cataclysm, but the design, look, and portrayal in the game are nearly identical to my creation.”
He then compares the in-game weapon with his real-life AK-50, focusing on the distinctive features of his design such as the positioning and count of rivets while demonstrating how these elements have been replicated in the JAK Cataclysm.
While video games often feature fictional or modified versions of real-world weapons, the resemblance between the JAK Cataclysm and Herrera’s AK-50 has sparked considerable speculation.
“This isn’t just inspiration,” Herrera argued. “They copied it down to the smallest detail.” He also points out that the game developers may have inaccurately portrayed some of the gun’s key characteristics.
Herrera explained in his video that Activision’s minions got some of the details wrong for the AK-50. “For example, the recoil and firing mechanism they’ve depicted don’t reflect how this type of weapon actually works. It’s misleading to gamers who might assume the JAK Cataclysm’s representation is accurate.”
“This is something I poured years of my life into, and to see it used without acknowledgment, under the name JAK Cataclysm, is disappointing.”
The situation raises important questions about intellectual property in video games, particularly regarding the rights of content creators. Although Herrera has no plans to take legal action, he emphasizes that, as a fan of the franchise, his main concern is the lack of respect and proper recognition for his work, which he damn well deserves.
Activision has a history of featuring content creators in their games, such as adding “Nickmercs” as an operator in Call of Duty. However, they quickly removed him after he tweeted against children being groomed by LGBT advocates.
Activision has since released a free pride pack with pride-themed weapon camouflages. It’s likely that Brandon Herrera would be thrilled to have his AK-50 featured in Call of Duty with a more accurate design, especially if he could be credited as the creator and have the opportunity to give the gun its own unique name in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III if actually approached by Activision.
Given the recent backlash over the H2M mod incident, Activision is once again facing criticism on social media, especially since the AK-50’s development, which took years and garnered millions of views for Herrera, has seemingly been reduced to an unlockable trinket in Call of Duty’s latest seasonal pass.
When Activision Blizzard faces public backlash, the company often responds by focusing on LGBT representation, usually by introducing new characters in their hero shooter Overwatch who are canonically gay, trans, or non-binary.
This approach is frequently viewed as a way to shift attention away from criticism by emphasizing diversity and inclusivity. Given the current controversy, it wouldn’t be surprising if Activision soon announces more LGBT-themed content as part of their response.
