Call of Duty movie director calls gamers 'pathetic' for playing Call of Duty

Earlier this month, Xbox and Activision announced that the live-action Call of Duty movie was on track to hit theaters on June 30, 2028. The film adaptation of one of the most popular gaming franchises of all time is being developed in partnership with Paramount, with acclaimed writer Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Yellowstone) penning the script alongside director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor).

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Although we don't know much about the movie beyond the above, it seems it's already sparked its first bit of controversy courtesy of an old interview. Back in 2013, Call of Duty's Peter Berg sat down with Esquire and shared some very unflattering words about video games, specifically shooters like Call of Duty.

"Pathetic," Peter Berg responds when asked about his thoughts on video games. "Keyboard courage. Can't stand it. The only people that I give a Call of Duty get-out-of-jail-free card to is the military. They're out there serving and they're bored and they want to entertain themselves? Okay, maybe. Kids? Uh-uh."

Peter Berg's disapproval of video games doesn't stop there. The filmmaker, who has a history of filming projects alongside the military and soldiers, has apparently shared these feelings with actual Navy SEALs. "I tell them I think it's pathetic," he adds. "I think anyone that sits around playing video games for four hours... It's weak. Get out, do something."

Granted, the framework for this portion of the interview centered on Peter Berg as an "advocate of American manhood," so the idea of going outside and doing something physical rather than playing video games makes sense. Still, it makes you wonder why he signed on to a project based on a gaming franchise that he seems to despise. A game series where, apparently, the only scenario that would justify playing a Call of Duty game would be when a U.S. soldier is bored and wants to be entertained.