Activision Confirms AI Use in Call of Duty: Black Ops

Activision has finally acknowledged using generative AI in the development of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, nearly three months after fans raised concerns about AI-generated assets. The controversy began with the Season 1 Reloaded update, where players noticed anomalies in loading screens, calling cards, and in-game art related to Zombies events.

The most prominent example was a loading screen featuring Zombie Santa ("Necroclaus"), which appeared to depict the character with six fingers—a common flaw in AI-generated images. A similar issue was found in an image showcasing a new Zombies community event, showing a gloved hand with an unusual number of digits.

Further scrutiny revealed irregularities in other images included in paid bundles, fueling the debate. Redditor Shaun_LaDee highlighted these inconsistencies, prompting calls for Activision to be transparent about its AI usage, especially in paid content.

Following new AI disclosure rules on Steam, Activision added a statement to Black Ops 6's Steam page: "Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets." This vague disclosure follows a Wired report from July, which revealed Activision sold an unnamed AI-generated cosmetic in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Yokai’s Wrath bundle (December 2023), without disclosing the AI's involvement. This bundle cost 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15).

Wired also highlighted the juxtaposition of Activision selling AI-generated content and the subsequent layoffs of 1,900 employees in Microsoft's gaming division following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Anonymous Activision artists claimed that 2D artists were laid off, and remaining artists were pressured to utilize AI tools. Allegedly, employees were mandated to undergo AI training, indicating a company-wide push towards AI integration.

The use of generative AI in the gaming industry remains a contentious issue, sparking ethical and rights concerns, alongside questions about the quality of AI-generated content. Keywords Studios’ failed experiment in creating an entirely AI-driven game serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating that AI cannot yet fully replace human talent.