Xbox Users Outraged After Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Background Installs Without Their Permission

Some Xbox Series X/S users have found that a background featuring Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was installed on their consoles without their knowledge. Players have criticized Microsoft, saying the game's advertising has appeared not only as wallpaper but also on the console home screen, with the number of such ads reportedly continuing to grow.

Dozens of discussions have appeared on Reddit, with users trying to figure out why their Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S background changed after booting up the console, even though they hadn't set it themselves.

The promotional background has appeared in many regions, but not all of them. The situation also appears to depend on the age settings associated with users' accounts.

Ads for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 have also appeared in the bottom row of tiles on the Xbox home screen. Unlike the background image, these tiles have no mention of an option to disable them in the personalization settings.

A new option has appeared in the personalization settings that automatically applies themed backgrounds for special occasions. These include major game releases, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The promotional background can be disabled.

This isn't the first time a game has been advertised when Xbox users turn on their consoles. During the pre-order period, users were shown full-screen ads for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Players have voiced their frustration with this latest form of promotion, noting that ads on Xbox consoles seem to be becoming increasingly common.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launched today, October 23. The game has received Very Positive reviews on Steam.

What kind of advertising do you consider acceptable on Xbox, especially if promotional tiles remain on the home screen?