The big mid-season update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone made quite a few changes that were detailed in the patch notes. However, as is typical of big Call of Duty updates, some secret changes were made as well. As part of the latest update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward has seemingly removed the "okay" gesture from the game, and while an official reason hasn't been given, it's likely it has something to do with how the symbol has become popular with white supremacists.
For the uninitiated, a 4chan hoax to turn the "okay" gesture into a hate symbol has actually worked, with people now genuinely using it to represent "white power." While Infinity Ward hasn't stated if that is the reason why it decided to remove the "okay" gesture from Modern Warfare and Warzone, it does seem to be the most likely explanation.
Infinity Ward has made a stronger effort to combat racism in Modern Warfare in light of the Black Lives Matter protests still taking place all over the world. This has included cracking down on racist language and usernames in the game, as well as adding a Black Lives Matter message to the Modern Warfare start screen for a time. Considering this, it makes sense for Infinity Ward to remove the "okay" gesture from the game, especially as players could use it to troll others.
That being said, some players are upset that Infinity Ward has removed the okay gesture from Modern Warfare and Warzone. They point out that the game literally allows players to commit war crimes through the use of killstreaks like White Phosphorus, so it seems odd for it to pursue a moral high ground. The argument has also been made that by acknowledging the use of the "okay" gesture as a white supremacy symbol, Infinity Ward has given it more recognition and power than it would have if it just left it alone.
Ultimately, it's Infinity Ward's decision to remove the "okay" gesture if it wants to do so. The studio seems to be making an attempt to be more sensitive to racial issues in its games and community, and this is just the latest example.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.